Sweet Wine Appellations

Question 1

Sauternes AOC and Barsac AOC

These two appellations in the southern part of the Graves are for sweet, typically ____ ____ wines made from ____ (80 per cent of plantings), ____ ___ and tiny
amounts of ____

Answer 1

botrytis affected

Sémillon

Sauvignon Blanc

Muscadelle

Question 2

Conditions to produce noble rot due to the meeting
of the cold ______ with the warmer ____ ___ promoting morning mists

What is ideal situation for noble rot to grow?

Answer 2

Ciron River

Garonne River,

The ideal situation for noble rot is when these mists are burnt off by the middle of the day, with sunshine in the afternoon drying the grapes to avoid the development of grey rot.

Question 3

Sauternes is the largest sweet wine appellation in Bordeaux.

In terms of production %, How much does Sauternes make?

Answer 3

50% of all all sweet wine produced is made in Sauternes

Question 4

Wines from the commune of Barsac may be labelled as either

____ AOC or _____ AOC

Answer 4

Barsac AOC

Sauternes

Question 5

What are the maximum yields of both regions?

Why is the maximum yield not a big worry for such production styles?

Answer 5

Maximum yields are limited to just 25 hL/ha in both appellations.

In reality, much lower yields are often required to ensure grapes are fully ripened before noble rot develops

Question 6

TASTING NOTE:

Sauternes/Barsac Sweet botrytis affected wine

Answer 6

The wines have 
- pronounced aromas of citrus peel, honey, tropical fruit (mango) with vanilla oak notes;
- full bodied, 
- high alcohol, 
- medium to medium (+) acidity
 and a sweet finish. 
The wines are very good to outstanding and prices
range from mid-priced to super-premium.

Question 7

Regarding Sauternes Popularity:

Through a decline over the past 30 years in popularity, What are estates doing to offset this lack of income?

Answer 7

Producing Dry wines, now an important source of income.

Question 8

Other Sweet Wine Appellations of Bordeaux

Answer 8

Sweet white wine is also produced in a number of appellations on both banks of the Garonne,
such as:

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOC 
Loupiac AOC 
(maximum yields, 40 hL/ha) 

Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOC
(maximum yield, 45 hL/ha).

These wines may be botrytis-affected or simply late harvest. The wines are good to very good in quality and
inexpensive to mid-priced.