4 Unexpected Ways to Pair Sauternes Like a Pro
If you love hosting at home– whether it's a simple cocktail hour or an elaborate dinner party– then you already know that one of the biggest challenges is coming up with ideas to make the night memorable while keeping the logistics relatively simple.
One great hack? Picking out a legendary wine and then coming up with surprising, expected food pairings to enjoy with it! Who doesn't love wine tasting? One of my favorite showstopper wines is Sauternes, a sweet wine from Bordeaux, France. When you start pairing food with Sauternes, you'll discover it's one of the most versatile wines out there: no matter what your preferred style of hosting is: classic, adventurous, upscale, or casual, this is a wine that can do it all.
Pairing food with Sauternes is a perfect way to explore the full range of this versatile wine. Here are four ways to do it!
Sauternes is an excellent food pairing with spicy Thai dishes
Getting to Know Sauternes
Before we get into tips for pairing food with Sauternes, here are some basics about the wine itself! Learn a few of these, so you can share these incredible facts with your guests and dazzle them with your newfound wine knowledge.
Sauternes basics:
Sauternes is a “sweet wine” appellation in Bordeaux, France.
Wine pros usually use the term 'sweet wines' to differentiate them from standard table wines. Still, to be clear, these have incredible range and excellent acidity and are super-complex and delicious. There is residual sweetness and a whole lot more. Another wine to know is Barsac, a communal appellation within the borders of the Sauternes appellation. It has the same laws in terms of production.
The grape varieties used to make Sauternes and Barsac: Semillion, Sauvignon blanc, and Muscadelle.
How Sauternes is made:
What creates this magnificent sweet style is a miracle of nature, where geography and climate come together to create a unique phenomenon called Botrytis– also known as 'noble rot.
Sauternes and Barsac sit at a crossing of two rivers, the Garonne and the Ciron. The Ciron is very cool, and when it meets the warmer Garonne, it produces misty mornings that veil the vineyards– and that moisture settles on the grapes, allowing the Botrytis' friendly fungus' to form. Botrytis effectively decays the grapes, evaporating their water content, shriveling them up, and concentrating their sugars– while also elevating their complexity.
The result is a very fresh and lively wine with zesty acidity– but still has a good amount of honey-toned sweetness and a luxurious viscosity. The classic flavor profiles of Sauternes and Barsac include honey, pear, quince, acacia, mango, apricot, and orange zest.
Botrytis cannot be cultivated in a lab– it's truly a miracle of nature. We have Sauternes and Barsac producers to thank for keeping up this incredible winemaking tradition. One vine produces just a single glass of Sauternes or Barsac. And pickers usually have to pass through multiple times during each harvest. You might know the famous Chateau Yquem, but there are 140 small winegrowers in the region!
What’s terroir got to do with it?
Even though Sauternes and Barsac share the same production method and grape varieties, they have slightly different terroir– creating somewhat different flavor profiles. Sauternes is slightly hillier, which increases the effects of the mist and ultimately leads to more rich wines. Barsac's flatter sand and limestone-based soils create more elegantly flavored wines with lots of finesse.
Classic Food Pairings for Sauternes
Food and wine pairing is a classic topic that can be approached in many ways. There are traditional rules of thumb, such as "what grows together, goes together." But there are also more technical approaches, such as matching flavors or textures.
Traditional pairings:
Traditionally, Sauternes is often served alongside foie gras, which is goose liver that is fattened through a process called gavage. With a rich taste and silky texture, you can find it whole, as pâté, or as a mousse. It's generally served as an appetizer, in terrines or pan-seared– and Sauternes is considered a classic pairing because the sweetness of the wine contrasts the savory depth of the liver. At the same time, its high acid stands up well to the creamy fattiness of foie gras.
The other place you'll commonly see Sauternes is served alongside the dessert course. Because of its high acidity level, it helps cut through decadent, creamy desserts like cheesecake or crème brûlée. One of the best pairings I've experienced with Sauternes was a rich, buttery, caramelized apple tarte tatin.
Surprising and Creative Food Pairings for Sauternes
While the classic pairings are classic for a reason– it's fun to expand your horizons about how to enjoy these pairing food with Sauternes! There are many ways to get creative with Sauternes, from the aperitif to the cheese course.
Classic Pairing: Oysters
Oysters are a creative food pairing for Sauternes
This pairing doesn't get any more simple: pick up some oysters from your favorite seafood counter, shuck them either right before your guests arrive (or even during the party!)-- and pop a bottle of Sauternes. You're done!
The sweetness of the Sauternes complements the briny, salty flavor of oysters perfectly. As you sip on your glass of Sauternes, you'll notice that its notes of honey and apricot complement the taste of your oyster just as well as they pair with the salty brine. The best part? You don't need to be an expert to enjoy this pairing—it's simple enough for anyone to get right!
Adventurous Pairing: Spicy Thai Food
Thai food paired with Sauternes
Sauternes and spicy Thai food are a match made in heaven. The sweetness of the wine helps calm down the spicy notes in the food, while the dishes like Pad Thai help enhance the tropical notes of Sauternes. The pairing works particularly well with anything that's got chilies and lemongrass as primary flavors. And, it's as easy as ordering in from your favorite neighborhood Thai restaurant– simply plate the dishes on colorful, pretty platters, and you're ready to serve.
Casual Pairing: Cheese And Charcuterie
A great food pairing for Sauternes: cheese and charcuterie
This is yet another pairing that proves you don't need a fancy, multi-course dinner to enjoy Sauternes. Simply build a board with your favorite cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, nuts, and accompaniments.
The sweetness of the Sauternes is complemented by the savory flavors of cheese, while the acidity in both elements brings out the best in each other. Sauternes is one of the most popular choices when pairing with charcuterie because it has a high acidity and sweetness that complements cured meats' salty, fatty nature. The result is a refreshing, dynamic pairing that will leave you wanting more!
The Lush Life Sauternes Board
Roquefort
Comte
Fresh Chevre
Brie
Ham
Sliced Apples
Marcona Almonds
Fresh Rosemary to garnish
Sauternes paired with cheese and charcuterie
Comfort Food Pairing: Roast Chicken, Or Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
What's more homey and comforting than a classic roast chicken? Most people wouldn't think of pairing it with a glass of sweet wine, but they are truly a match made in heaven:
The pairing of Sauternes with roast chicken is one of my favorites because it brings out the best in both dishes: The rich sweetness of the Sauternes complements the roasted meat while enhancing its flavor. Try making Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary.
Roast chicken is a comfort food pairing for Sauternes
Serve with simple roast potatoes or roasted butternut squash, and you've got a meal!
Pairing Sauternes with grilled cheese sandwiches is another fantastic treat– we often call that a 'high/low pairing. I like to elevate my grilled cheese: I used Taleggio cheese- a super creamy, melty, slightly funky washed-rind cheese. To play off the Sauternes, I sauteed some apples with thinly sliced shallots, fresh thyme, and a splash of Sauternes until the apples were soft– and layered that into my sandwich. The results, and pairing, were genuinely sublime.
Taleggio grilled cheese with sauteed apples and shallots
Grilled cheese paired with Sauternes
I hope you're inspired to try these creative, unexpected food pairings for Sauternes– a sumptuous palate experience awaits!
