The Sauternes grape variety, whose name inevitably evokes the famous sweet white wine of Bordeaux, possesses a complex history and an ampelographic identity that long remained a mystery. Contrary to a deeply rooted belief, it is not the result of a cross between Sémillon and Sauvignon, but stems from a more unexpected parentage: Jurançon blanc and Sauvignon.

This genetic origin sheds new light on its characteristics. Sauternes is distinguished by late budburst and late first-period ripening. It traditionally produces low-alcohol wines with discreet acidity, yet endowed with a distinctive aromatic profile often compared to that of Sauvignon. It offers fresh, sometimes vegetal or citrus notes, which can develop into floral and honeyed touches at full ripeness.

Once far more widespread across the Gironde, this variety came close to extinction following the phylloxera crisis, as it was rarely grafted onto American rootstocks. Its rediscovery and preservation—notably through the work of Baudel in the 1950s at Siorac-de-Ribérac in Dordogne—bear witness to the importance of preserving the diversity of Bordeaux's forgotten grape varieties. It accounted for around 25% of the white vineyard area in the Premières Côtes around 1850. It was already mentioned by Jullien in 1832 as one of the principal grape varieties for the white wines of Barsac, Preignac, and Sauternes.

Sauternes is also less susceptible to Botrytis noble rot, which is rather unusual for a grape variety associated with the wines of the Graves.

Ampelographic profile

Characteristic	Description
Budburst	Late, but catches up rapidly in May.
Ripening	Late first period (according to Viala and Vermorel, third period).
Vigour	Hardy and vigorous.
Downy mildew susceptibility	Fairly good resistance (better than Sauvignon, less than Pignon, Sémillon, and Castets).
Powdery mildew susceptibility	Susceptible.
Botrytis susceptibility	Very low susceptibility to noble rot.
Black rot susceptibility	Fairly prone.
Aromatic profile	Close to Sauvignon, with vegetal, citrus, floral, and honeyed notes at maturity.
Winemaking potential	Low-alcohol wines with low acidity and a distinctive aromatic character. Can be left on the vine without excessive rot.

At Château Cazebonne, we are proud to contribute to the revival of these grape varieties, including Sauternes. This work of remembrance and perseverance enables us to bring back to life an unexpected palette of flavours that shaped the identity of our wines for centuries. This ambitious project is only possible thanks to the invaluable support of the many wine lovers who have embraced our wines and share our passion for rediscovering Bordeaux's viticultural heritage, alongside the Len de l'El grape variety, the Blanc Auba grape variety, the Baroque grape variety, the Gouais grape variety, or the Béquignol blanc grape variety and the Melon grape variety.

To deepen your knowledge of this fascinating history, we invite you to download our digital edition of the book “Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages”. You can also test your knowledge with our wine quizzes, and of course, discover our wines crafted from these rediscovered varieties.