  One of the main scientific drivers for ESPRESSO,\'Echelle SPectrograph, is
the detection and characterization of Earth-class exoplanets. With this goal in
mind, the ESPRESSO Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO) Catalog identifies the
best target stars for a blind search for the radial velocity (RV) signals
caused by Earth-class exoplanets. Using the most complete stellar catalogs
available, we screened for the most suitable G, K, and M dwarf stars for the
detection of Earth-class exoplanets with ESPRESSO. For most of the stars, we
then gathered high-resolution spectra from new observations or from archival
data. We used these spectra to spectroscopically investigate the existence of
any stellar binaries, both bound or background stars. We derived the activity
level using chromospheric activity indexes using $log(R'_{HK})$, as well as the
projected rotational velocity $\textit{v sin i}$. For the cases where planet
companions are already known, we also looked at the possibility that additional
planets may exist in the host's habitable zone using dynamical arguments. We
estimated the spectroscopic contamination level, $\textit{v sin i}$, activity,
stellar parameters and chemical abundances for 249 of the most promising
targets. Using these data, we selected 45 stars that match our criteria for
detectability of a planet like Earth. The stars presented and discussed in this
paper constitute the ESPRESSO GTO catalog for the RV blind search for
Earth-class planets. They can also be used for any other work requiring a
detailed spectroscopic characterization of stars in the solar neighborhood.
