Sauternes is a wine type that is not very familiar to those who are not seriously into wines. It’s a shame though because Sauternes is one of the most enjoyable wines to indulge in. It’s a white wine that has a fruity bouquet and a strong natural sweetness. The sweetness it gets from the way the grapes – usually Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon varieties – are handled. The grapes develop noble rot, which results in them shriveling somewhat, something that is akin to a grape turning into a raisin. These partially raisined grapes are what is used in making Sauternes. These grapes have a higher than usual sugar content, which results in the wine acquiring that distinctively sweet taste. [Read more…]