Sauternes

Sauternes wines are generally full-bodied, elegant and oh-so-sweet, though neatly balanced out with zesty acidity that sidesteps them from becoming overpowering or cloying. This acidity often contributes citrus notes such as those of candied lemon peel.

Sauternes offers intense flavours of tropical fruits like pineapple, mango and apricot, as well as honeyed, overripe and dried fruits. It’s characterised by a luscious sweetness due to its high sugar content.

They have a long, smooth finish that can linger on the tongue for several minutes. Sauternes wines have a distinctive, vibrant golden colour that can deepen to a darker amber as the wine ages.

Due to their sweetness and higher alcohol content – typically around 13% ABV – these dessert wines have excellent ageing potential. Some of the finest bottles of Sauternes can age for decades, developing more complex flavours, including butterscotch, caramel, toasted nuts and even hints of ginger or spice.

Sauternes, with its intense sweetness and vibrant acidity, can be a versatile wine for food pairings. Here are some suggestions:

• Desserts: Given its sweetness, Sauternes is a natural match for a variety of desserts. Try it with fruit-based desserts such as apple tart, berry crumble or lemon meringue pie. It also pairs well with desserts featuring caramel or butterscotch flavours.
• Cheese: Sauternes is a classic pairing with blue cheese, such as Roquefort. The sweetness of the wine contrasts beautifully with the saltiness of the cheese. It can also be paired with other intense, pungent cheeses.
• Foie gras: This is a traditional pairing in France. The rich, buttery texture of foie gras is complemented by the sweet, fruity and acidic profile of Sauternes.
• Spicy foods: The sweetness of Sauternes can help tame the heat of spicy foods, making it a good match for dishes with a bit of a kick. Consider pairing it with fiery dishes such as Sichuan hot pot, Maruchan ramen noodle soup or a Madras curry.
• Seafood: Rich, flavourful seafood dishes, such as lobster or scallops in a creamy or buttery sauce, can also work well with a glass of Sauternes.

Remember though, pairing wine is largely a matter of personal preference, so feel free to experiment and find what you like best.

Discover more tips in our beginner's guide to food and wine pairing. 

Sauternes requires a bit of care when serving to appreciate its complex character fully. Serve Sauternes wine chilled (between 6-10°C). You can enjoy the wine’s more delicate flavours and balanced acidity at this lower temperature without the sweetness or alcohol becoming too overpowering.

Sauternes wine should be served in a small dessert wine glass. The design of these glasses ensures you only pour a small portion and capture those sweet, tropical fruit aromas. Larger servings of Sauternes may be more difficult to enjoy as easily, but if you don’t have a dessert wine glass handy, a standard white wine glass will do. Just be wary of how much you pour!

The day of your delivery will depend on which option you’ve chosen at checkout.  

• For a standard delivery, we will deliver your order in three to five working days. Delivery to the Scottish Highlands, some other areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and offshore islands can take an extra few days.
• Usual delivery times are between 07.00 and 21.00.
• You can select Next-day or Named-day delivery at checkout – but do bear in mind we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

For the best experience we recommend you subscribe to our Unlimited service. A one-off payment of £29.99 entitles you to free delivery for a year – including free Next-day delivery. There’s no minimum order – you’ll get free delivery even on a single bottle. And you can get delivery to multiple addresses, so it’s perfect for gifting!

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• Choose your wine gift and select ‘add to basket’.
• Go to your basket and select ‘checkout’.Select your shipping address (add a new one of you need to).
• Add a case label message (free) or choose a gift card and add a message (for £1.99)
• Select ‘Continue’ and choose shipping method.
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