France · AOCs

Sauternes & Barsac

Golden botrytised sweet wines born of autumn river mists.

Morning mist over Sauternes vines
Morning mist over Sauternes vines
Where the cold Ciron meets the warmer Garonne, autumn mornings bring the mists that spread noble rot (botrytis) across Sémillon and Sauvignon. Grapes are picked berry by berry over several passes, concentrating them into honeyed, long-lived sweet wine. Tiny yields, immense labour.

Pickers go through the rows up to a dozen times.

ClimateMaritime with autumn morning mists
Altitude5–70 m

Grapes

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle

Soils

GravelClay-LimestoneSand
A single vine may yield just one glass of Yquem.