AOC Sauternes wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

A.O.C./A.O.P.

Sauternes, considered to be one of the greatest sweet white wines in the world, comes from an area located in the southern part of the Graves. This regional appellation embraces 5 villages: Sauternes, Fargues, Bommes, Preignac and Barsac. The cold waters of the river Ciron, which cuts through Sauternes, flow into the warmer Garonne, producing the autumn mists which envelop the vineyard in the evening and linger until the following morning. These climatic conditions are conducive to the formation of noble rot. Soil make-up is extremely varied, covering the gamut from gravel, to clay, silica and limestone or all four simultaneously. Subsoil is primarily clay though patches of limestone or gravel are also present. The wines are made from white varietals prone to ‘Botrytis cinerea’ (noble rot) such as Semillon (80% of the blend), Sauvignon and Muscadelle. Climate permitting, noble rot forms and the grapes are late harvested by painstakingly combing through the vineyard time after time. The grapes become shrivelled with extremely high sugar concentration. Potential alcohol content must be between 20° to 22° to produce 14-14.5% in the bottle, with residual sugar making up the balance. Once the grapes have been harvested, they have to be handled with great care and must be pressed as gently as possible. The wines are fermented either in tanks or barrels and are usually matured under oak for anything between 18 to 36 months.

Grape varieties: Vins blancs doux : sémillon, sauvignon, muscadelle

The wines of this appellation

AC Sauternes yields sweet white wines displaying an old gold hue. They are rich, unctuous wines bolstered by a touch of acidity which allows them to age well. They exhibit fragrances of citrus fruit, acacia honey, apricot and hazelnut. Serve chilled as an appetiser, with foie gras, dishes cooked in a butter sauce, elaborate white meat dishes or desserts. Classed growths, wines from Sauternes are classed either as AC Sauternes or AC Barsac, or occasionally both.