What is Sauternes wine and how is it made?

What is Sauternes?

Sauternes is a sweet white wine from the Sauternes area of Bordeaux, France. It is made only from white grapes, across about 1,550 hectares in five communes.

Which grapes?

• Semillon: dominates, usually at least 70 percent of a vintage.
• Sauvignon Blanc: blended in for acidity and structure.
• Muscadelle and Sauvignon Gris: small amounts.

How is Sauternes made?

1. Noble rot: noble rot is the foundation of Sauternes. Botrytis cinerea makes the grape skins thinner and more porous so water evaporates, concentrating sugar. Early-morning mists from the colder Ciron river help it develop.
2. Harvest in passes: growers begin weighing the harvest in September. Pickers make several passes, called tris, to take only botrytis-affected grapes. In difficult years the harvest can last 50 to 60 days.
3. Tiny yields: the guide cites tiny yields as a reason Sauternes is costly to make.
4. Pressing and fermentation: fermentation usually stops naturally at about 13 percent alcohol, leaving sugar in the wine.
5. Aging: in French oak, for a time chosen by the winemaker.

Does it age?

The merchant guide says Sauternes is approachable young but can age for a very long time, developing notes such as peach, caramelized orange and raisin.

How to enjoy it

• Serve in small glasses; I found no official serving temperature, so follow the producer’s advice.
• The guide says it is best appreciated on its own.
• Many people also pair it with blue cheese or fruit desserts; this is common practice, not a rule.

Common mistake

Treating it as only for dessert. Its richness stands on its own, but quality and price vary a lot, so read the label and producer.