Sauternes Wines

The Sauternes wine region occupies a special place in the world of sweet wines, symbolised perfectly by the prestigious Chateau d'Yquem.

The wines of Sauternes owe their very particular flavour to the famous "noble rot", botrytis cinerea, a fungus without which this style would simply not exist. A unique microclimate is formed in this area by the Ciron River (a small tributary of the Garonne). The morning mists of autumn brings moisture, which is deposited on the surface of the berries, allowing for the development of this noble rot.

The noble rot dries out the berries by concentrating the sugars inside (221g/L, according to the specifications of the appellation) and helping the wine express its flavours fully. A kind of liquid gold, Sauternes wines are the result of a process that is long and expensive for producers, since the specifications of the appellation limit the yield per hectare to just 25hl. At the most selective estates, one vine is equivalent to a glass of wine, instead of a bottle as in the case for most wines.