The Sauternes appellation is one of the world's most famous and prestigious sweet wine regions in the south of Bordeaux. Sauternes and Barsac are two neighboring sub-regions of Graves located on the Left Bank along the Garonne River. The vineyards of Sauternes stretch across several communes, including Sauternes, Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, and Preignac.
Sauternes' viticultural history spans several centuries, and the region has a solid reputation for its high-quality sweet wines. The unique climate of the region, influenced by the proximity of the Ciron and Garonne rivers, creates ideal conditions for developing Botrytis cinerea, a fungus known as ‘noble rot.' This fungus concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in rich and complex wines. Sauternes wines are primarily made from three grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle. With their golden hue and intensely aromatic bouquet, they are a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. On the palate, they offer a fascinating array of flavors: from honey and apricot to peach, spices, candied fruits, and sometimes a hint of vanilla. The wines of this appellation are glorious, succulent, rich in nuance, and complex, sweet Bordeaux wines that are much appreciated worldwide.
Sauternes wines enjoy an excellent reputation, reflected in the 1855 classification with the Château d’Yquem selected as Premier Cru Supérieur (First Great Growth). Other Premier Cru (First Growth) Sauternes are: Château Suduiraut, Château Coutet, Château Guiraud, Château Rieussec, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey.