Bordeaux · Sub-regions
Sauternes & Barsac
The world centre of nobly sweet wine. Where the cool Ciron meets the warm Garonne, autumn mists lay Botrytis cinerea — noble rot — onto Sémillon berries. It draws out water and concentrates sugar, acid and aroma: honey, apricot, saffron, candied orange. Yquem ages for a century.
Grape Varieties
Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
Most Famous Site
Château d'Yquem
Vineyard Area
2.200 ha
TERROIR PROFILE · Bordeaux
Sauternes & Barsac Botrytis sweet-wine terroir
Sauternes: where mist turns to gold — botrytis makes Sémillon a wonder of the world.
SOILS
Gravel / Sandlight, approachable
Gravel and sand drain heavily — vines struggle for water, wines turn fine, light and elegant.
Limestoneprecise, mineral
Limestone delivers tension, structure and a cooler, more mineral character.
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
CLIMATE · Maritime
The cool Ciron meets the warm Garonne: morning mist lays noble rot on the berries, dry afternoons concentrate them — a unique rhythm.
TOPOGRAPHY · gentle
Gentle hills along the Ciron; Barsac flatter and chalkier, Sauternes more gravelly.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Region aroma cloud
Bordeaux overview
This sub-region is part of Bordeaux. The map shows all 23 sub-regions — Sauternes & Barsac is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Soil Type
Gravel, sand and limestone; Barsac on pure limestone gives the leaner, Sauternes the more opulent sweet wines
Climate
Morning mists off the Ciron + dry warm afternoons — the perfect botrytis rhythm
Top sites & producers
5 sitesThe most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.
By place (5)
Sauternes & Barsac5 entries
Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.
Top profiles
33 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below
Château d'Yquem
Sauternes & Barsac · Sauternes
Sémillon ~75%, Sauvignon Blanc ~25%
Château Climens
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Sémillon 100%
Château Suduiraut
Sauternes & Barsac · Preignac
Château Rieussec
Sauternes & Barsac · Fargues
Climens
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Château Coutet
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
All Wineries
43 resultsChâteau d'Yquem
Sauternes & Barsac · Sauternes
Sémillon ~75%, Sauvignon Blanc ~25%
Château Climens
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Sémillon 100%
Château Coutet
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Château Rieussec
Sauternes & Barsac · Fargues
Château Suduiraut
Sauternes & Barsac · Preignac
Climens
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Château Guiraud
Sauternes & Barsac · Sauternes
Château La Tour Blanche
Sauternes & Barsac · Bommes
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Sauternes & Barsac · Bommes
Château Rabaud Promis
Sauternes & Barsac · Bommes
Château Rayne-Vigneau
Sauternes & Barsac · Bommes
Château Sigalas-Rabaud
Sauternes & Barsac · Bommes
Clos Haut Peyraguey
Sauternes & Barsac · Bommes
Château Broustet
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Château Caillou
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Château d'Arche
Sauternes & Barsac · Sauternes
Château de Malle
Sauternes & Barsac · Preignac
Château de Myrat
Sauternes & Barsac · Barsac
Events in Bordeaux
All events in Bordeaux →12 Dec – Sun, 13 December 2026
Bordeaux Tasting
Tasting · Bordeaux
19 Feb – Mon, 22 February 2027
Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants Strasbourg
Wine fair · Straßburg
19 Apr – Thu, 22 April 2027
Semaine des Primeurs Bordeaux
Trade event · Bordeaux
1 May – Sun, 2 May 2027
Portes Ouvertes en Saint-Émilion
Open cellar · Saint-Émilion
Thu, 24 June 2027
Fête de la Fleur
Wine dinner · Bordeaux
Sat, 11 September 2027
Marathon du Médoc
Wine walk · Pauillac
Frequently Asked Questions
Which grape varieties define Sauternes & Barsac?
The key grape varieties in Sauternes & Barsac are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The best-known vineyard is Château d'Yquem.
What does the terroir of Sauternes & Barsac taste like?
Soils: Gravel, sand and limestone; Barsac on pure limestone gives the leaner, Sauternes the more opulent sweet wines. Climate: Morning mists off the Ciron + dry warm afternoons — the perfect botrytis rhythm. Together they shape structure, acidity and aromatics – see the terroir profile above.
How many wineries are there in Sauternes & Barsac?
Cellarmap lists 43 wineries in Sauternes & Barsac across roughly 2,200 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
Which is the most famous vineyard in Sauternes & Barsac?
Château d'Yquem is regarded as the most famous vineyard of Sauternes & Barsac. The vineyard overview on this page shows which estates farm it.
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.