The appellation was recognised in 1936, among the very first in France, and covers 1,200 hectares and 140 winegrowers across the communes of Sauternes, Barsac, Bommes, Fargues and Preignac, between the Garonne and the Landes forest. What makes the wine possible is a river: the cool Ciron flows out of the Landes into the warmer Garonne, and in autumn the meeting of the two waters brings morning fog and afternoon sun. In those conditions Botrytis cinerea, the noble rot, grows on the ripe grapes and shrivels them, concentrating their sugar and their aromas.

Sémillon is the main grape, joined by Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and a little Muscadelle. The wines are sweet whites only. The Bordeaux wine council describes citrus and white flowers in youth, then spices, tropical fruit and dried fruit with age. Sauternes and Barsac are the only white wines in the 1855 classification: 27 châteaux are ranked, with Château d'Yquem alone as premier cru supérieur. Barsac, on its own asteriated limestone, has 400 hectares, 30 growers and 10 of those classified growths, and its winegrowers can label their wine Barsac or Sauternes.

The wines above are every Sauternes and Barsac in the cellar. See also our white wines, the mature wines or the full range of Bordeaux wines.