Sauternes

I do like to indulge in the sweeter things in life from time to time and that goes for wine too. So this week I would like to recommend the most famous sweet wine of them all, Sauternes.

Sauternes is a white wine produced in a village of the same name just outside the city of Bordeaux in France. Nearly all of the wine they produce here is sweet but they do make a small amount of dry wine too, though it doesn’t go under the name of Sauternes.

Sauternes is made with two main grape varieties Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with more Semillon used than Sauvignon Blanc. The way they produce this exceptional wine is quit exceptional. They allow a fungus called Botrytis Cinerea to set into the grapes. This fungus dries out the grapes leaving behind a high sugar count and loads of flavor. It looks like the grapes are all rotten and this is why it is called Noble Rot. This sort of technique can’t be carried out anywhere as the climate has to be just right and it is just that in Sauternes

Sauternes produce some really expensive wines that cost thousands but you can easily find a bottle for around €20. Be prepared for loads of sweetness and loads of sweet fruit flavor.

Enjoy, Sláinte,

Patrick

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