Sauternes Food Pairing Consider cheesecake of all kinds (sans chocolate), almond tart, lemon tart, meringues, and custards. That said, Sauternes shines alongside something more savory such as Roquefort or Livarot cheese and foie gras or terrine with caramelized onions.
How do you serve Sauternes dessert wine?
For much of its history, sweet Sauternes wine is traditionally paired with the first course of a meal during formal, multi-course dinners. The dessert course in the 1880s would be paired with Champagne.
What style of wine is Sauternes?
Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the region of the same name in the Graves section in Bordeaux. Sauternes wine is made from sémillon, sauvignon blanc, and muscadelle grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot.
What temperature should you drink Sauternes?
around 50 degrees Fahrenheit
It is best served around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, though Sauternes aged more than 15 years is served warmer.
Should you chill Sauternes?
Like most white wines, Sauternes should be served slightly chilled, around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerate it, but let it sit out for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Sauternes served ice cold will obscure the subtle spice notes this wine is known for.
Does Sauternes need to be refrigerated?
Not all wines should be served chilled, but Sauterne wines often taste best chilled. Newer vintages should be chilled at a lower temperature than older ones, but you can adjust the temperature to your personal preferences.
What food goes with dessert wine?
Perfect for sipping on a spring day or late summer evening, this dessert wine is extremely versatile. Try serving with poached pears, grilled peaches, fruit pies, nutty desserts like biscotti, or anything you like.
Does Sauternes pair with chocolate?
If you’re eating chocolate for dessert (never a bad idea), we recommend trying an original pairing and going with a Sauternes. The potent character of chocolate–the darker the better–will be pleasantly smoothed out by the unctuous intensity of Sauternes.
Why is Sauternes high in alcohol?
Sauternes. The process of making Sauternes involves the fermentation of botrytis-affected grapes that have super concentrated sugar levels. The high sugar levels cause the alcohol level to reach 15% to 16%, which naturally stops the fermentation, leaving behind as much as 7% residual sugar.
Do Sauternes age well?
Due to its high acidity and sugar levels, Sauternes can age beautifully. An opened bottle of Sauternes will keep longer in the fridge than a red or white wine. And while you can age these wines for decades, they are also delicious in their youth.
How do you cellar Sauternes?
If you feel a full-sized bottle of Sauternes is too much to consume in one sitting, the best way to keep it fresh is to pour the remainder into a smaller bottle (to minimize its exposure to oxygen), stopper it tightly and keep it in the refrigerator.
How do you enjoy Sauternes?
What to eat with Sauternes
- Ripe peaches and nectarines.
- Strawberries and cream.
- Simple French fruit tarts – especially apple and apricot tart.
- Roast pineapple – maybe the perfect match for Chateau d’Yquem on one of the rare occasions I’ve drunk it.
