Sauternes
An appellation of sweet wines made from botrytised grapes. Sugar and acidity act together as preservatives, which gives these wines exceptional longevity.
- Country
- France
- Region
- Bordeaux · Sauternais
- Main grape varieties
- Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc, Muscadelle
Drinking window
Years after the vintage, for a bottle kept in good conditions.
Sweet
8 to 50 years after the vintage
For a 2018: drink between 2026 and 2068.
These ranges are indicative: vintage, producer and storage conditions shift them.
Sources
The ranges published here are an editorial estimate, cross-checked against the references listed below and against the usual ageing behaviour of the style. They are not figures quoted directly from those sources.
- Les appellations de Bordeaux — Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, accessed September 13, 2026
- Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité — INAO, accessed September 13, 2026