Sauternes. Gold of Bordeaux

wine cellar

The renowned Sauternes, the white pearl of Bordeaux, holds the prestigious title of being the finest sweet wine globally, and rightfully so. Despite the waning interest in sweet wines, Sauternes continues to maintain its esteemed reputation.

What contributes to the distinctive taste and elevated price of Sauternes?

It’s the combination of factors such as the Noble Rot Botrytis cinerea, the exceptional climate of the Sauternes region, and the meticulous efforts of the winemakers.

The flavor profile of naturally sweet wines, aside from their varietal characteristics, relies on the techniques employed to maintain a high level of sugar in the wine. You can find more detailed information about this process here. Producing high-quality sweet wine necessitates conditions that enable grapes to accumulate ample sugar, halting fermentation before all the sugar is consumed.

There are four primary methods for achieving such grapes. Each method involves extracting water from the berries to enhance the concentration

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Burgundy. Introduction

Burgundy has often been named the stomach of France (as Paris is the head, and Champagne is the soul), but I don’t think that such a comparison is correct. If you associate France with the body, then Burgundy is its tongue with all its taste buds. Because Burgundy is not about gluttony, it is about enjoyment. Enjoyment of meal, enjoyment of wine. For this Burgundy has everything. As Burgundians say – it is an Epicurean place. Burgundian wines are famous around the world.

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North Burgundy. Coteaux de Tannay and Melon de Bourgogne

Coteaux de Tannay was the last place on our Wine and Waters journey for the bike and wine visit. Administratively it is located in Burgundy, and the climate and soil are also typical for Burgundy. However, accolading wine territorial classification, it belongs to Loire Valley. Tannay’s winemakers make wine in the Burgundy tradition (that is logical), but it cannot be named Burgundy (because belongs to the Loire formally), so it got the IGP title. The main varieties are Chardonnay and Pinot noir, as everywhere in Burgundy, and also Melon de Bourgogne.

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North Burgundy. Vezelay

Vezelay – it’s about history, architecture, religion, and wine.

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Wines of France. Buzet AOC

Let’s talk about the small wine region Buzet, which I searched out travelling on the barge and tasting local wines; about a trickery of Bordeaux wine negotiants; and about winemaking co-ops.

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