Sauternes

The Sauternes appellation is located on the left bank of the Garonne River, 40 kilometers upstream from Bordeaux. Sauternes is one of the smallest appellations in Bordeaux. It spans five communes: Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues, and Bommes. Sauternes is the most renowned of Bordeaux’s sweet wine AOCs. The wines it produces are appreciated around the world, and this terroir is home to highly renowned estates such as the world-famous Château d’Yquem, as well as Château Gilette, Château Doisy Daëne, Château Les Justices, Château de Fargues,Château Guiraud, Château Suduirant, and Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey.

The Sauternes vineyards are planted on soil that harmoniously blends layers of silica, limestone, and gravel. This region enjoys a microclimate conducive to the development of noble rot. This microclimate, influenced by the Ciron—a tributary of the Garonne—brings morning fog in the fall, which is quickly dispelled by the sun’s rays. Covering an area of nearly 1,770 hectares, Sauternes ’ annual production totals 34,000 hectoliters.

The blend of Sauternes wines is largely dominated by Sémillon. It is paired with Sauvignon. Muscadelle is sometimes added to this blend, lending it a wild touch. The essential uniqueness and the great secret of Sauternes wine lies in harvesting grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea. Botrytis cinerea, or “noble rot,” imparts a high sugar content to the wine but develops gradually. This gradual development requires the grape pickers to make several passes through the vineyard to harvest only the most affected berries. The harvest can therefore last two months and take place in several stages. Certain production rules are imposed on winegrowers, such as the requirement to harvest by hand or to limit yields to 25 hectoliters per hectare. Combined with the effects of Botrytis, this low yield allows us to produce wines that are consistently very concentrated and rich.