Auslese

Plural auslesen. Literally, “select harvest.” A level of full ripeness according to the traditional German system. In the Modern VDP system in Germany, denotes a wine with significant sweetness.

Which of the following is not one of the five communes in Bordeaux that can produce Sauternes wines?

A. Loupiac

B. Fargues

C. Preignac

D. Bommes

Yeah, this is a tough one. The communes of Sauternes, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac, and Barsac in the southern Graves region of Bordeaux all produce sweet wines that are legally allowed to use the umbrella name Sauternes for their production. Although Loupiac is an appellation also dedicated to sweet wine in Bordeaux, it is not a part of the Sauternes designation. Sometimes called “the poor man’s Sauternes,” Loupiac’s wines are made in the same manner from botrytised grapes.

Noble Rot

Botrytis cinerea, commonly called “noble rot,” is a beneficial fungus that’s needed to produce many of the world’s great sweet wines, including Sauternes and Tokaji Aszú. When noble rot attacks grapes, it covers them with… Continue reading

Get WineSpeed