How to Serve Sauternes

Sauternes is a French dessert wine with a wonderfully sweet and luxurious taste. This famously rich wine is a favorite among connoisseurs and collectors and is often poured for holidays and celebrations. Here are some instructions on how to serve this decadent wine.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start your serving of Sauternes by making sure the wine is just below room temperature, around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sauternes will lose flavor if it is too cold, but it will taste overly sweet if served too warm. Strive for warmer rather than cooler if you can't achieve 50 degrees.

2. Pour 2-3 ounces per glass. Dessert wines are intended to be sipped slowly and swallowed in small amounts. Make sure the glass is well under half full.

3. Offer Roquefort or blue cheese with Sauternes. These cheeses are complemented by the sweet flavors in this particular dessert wine.

4. Give your guests a sampling of Sauternes at the end of the evening. Because of its richness, Sauternes should be served after red and white wines.

5. Pair Sauternes with low-key or bitter desserts. Serving a giant slice of rich cake or pie with a glass of sweet wine is overwhelming. Sauternes can be served alone for dessert, or with cheeses, light dessert salads, roasted nuts or a semi-sweet chocolate.

Tips & Warnings

• Skip the four-course meal and serve Sauternes as your wine of the evening with dishes like fish, ham or spicy sausage.
• Uncork Sauternes an hour or two before serving if it has been locked away for many years waiting for a special occasion. Wine that has been stored needs time to breathe.
• Sauternes can age for many years before being served. Don't hesitate to put it away in a cellar for awhile.

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