Sainte-Croix-du-Mont WIne Region Guide

The Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation is located southwest of Entre-Deux-Mers, right in front of Sauternes, between the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, perched on a rocky hillside, majestically overlooks the Garonne. Saint Croix du Mont is one of Bordeaux's rare dessert wine appellations, located on the right bank of the Garonne River. The church and castle of Tastes dominate the valley in the middle of the hamlet, and on a clear day, you can see the Pyrenees from here! Wines of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont are widely regarded as a more cheap alternative to a much more expensive Sauternes and Barsac from the opposite side of the Garonne.

Check out the best wine tastings and tours in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont!

Where is the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wine region?

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is a sweet white wine producing Appellation d'origine contrôlée in the Bordeaux wine region of France. The wine-growing region is in the French region of Aquitaine, and it surrounds the commune of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont in the Gironde department. It is situated on the right bank of the Garonne River, in the subregion of Entre-Deux-Mers.

The region is bounded to the north by Loupiac, to the west by Sauternes, and to the south by Garonne. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is approximately 30 to 40 kilometers southeast of Bordeaux, adjacent to Sauternes and Barsac.

History of the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wine region

Aside from Tastes Castle and its expansive, panoramic views, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont also has a chapel famed for its 12th-century entrance and an outstanding geological deposit made of oyster fossils going back 22 million years.

The terroir and geography of the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wine region

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wine appellation has a somewhat continental climate and benefits from the fall morning fogs and bright afternoons. Approximately 500 hectares of vines face south and west on clay-limestone soils clustered around the charming hamlet of Sainte Croix. This appellation's clay-limestone soils and gravelly plateau allow classic Bordeaux white grape types to thrive and produce high-quality wines. The vineyards are more shielded from the chilly north breezes than the left bank. Every year, 500 hectares of vineyard yield around 1,250,000 liters of sweet or sweet liqueur wines due to a microclimate in the fall.

Popular grape varieties from the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wine region

Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon Gris are the permitted grape varietals in the appellations. The botrytis-prone Sémillon variety accounts for around 85 percent of the vineyards, with 12 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 3 percent Muscadelle. The region is well-known for its semi-sweet and sweet dessert wines made mostly from the grapes Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

The wines are rich golden in color, round and full-bodied, with a smooth taste with apricot, honey, and acacia blossom notes. These are well-made, premium wines that are less intense than Sauternes. They're delicious with blue cheese, almonds, foie gras, and almond cake. The best Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wines are comparable to those produced on the opposite side of the Garonne, Sauternes and Barsac. They are, however, substantially less inexpensive.

Food to pair with Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wine

Galette des Rois

This traditional French dish is typically associated with northern and central France. This dessert is one of several king cakes baked and consumed on Epiphany, on January 6th. Now a day, galettes are usually sold in French bakeries with a decorative paper crown on top.

A thick layer of frangipane, almond-based pastry cream, is sandwiched between two layers of flaky puff pastry to make the cake. Tradition holds that whoever finds a fève, porcelain, or plastic fortunate charm, within the frangipane will become a queen or king for the day.

Canelé

Canelé is a small french cake with a thick, custardy middle and a thin, caramelized shell that originated in Bordeaux, France between 15-18th centuries. Folklore suggests that the dessert began at the Annunciation convent in Bordeaux, which specialized in the manufacturing of candied almonds and sweet sticks known as “Canelets”.

Nuns from the priory used to make canelets to distribute them to the needy. The nuns departed the priory in 1790, but the recipe was rediscovered and revived by Bordeaux chefs around 1830. Canelé is now an iconic symbol of Bordeaux, preserved as the city's specialty, although it can also be found in various Parisian pâtisseries.

Île flottante

Île flottante also called a floating island, is a classic French dessert with meringues poached in vanilla custard and typically served with caramel sauce and toasted almonds. Typically, meringues are produced using beaten egg whites, sugar, and vanilla essence.

This famous dessert is a mainstay of French comfort cuisine, while it is also popular in countries like Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia, and Italy, albeit with minor adjustments and changes.

It is often offered at bistros, canteens, and trendy restaurants in France. Despite the fact that it is a very popular dish, its origins are unknown. The Île flottante is light, fluffy, and low in fat, and is said to taste best when served cold after a large meal, however it may be eaten on its own as a delightful mid-day treat.

Places to visit in the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wine region

Église Sainte-Croix

The Church of Sainte-Croix is a religious building that was built in the 17th century. Between 1911 and 1915, the church was restored in the spectacular ogival style. This catholic structure is located in the Bouffay area. This building was thought to have operated as a chapel for the Château de Bouffay.

During the French Revolution, the church building was transformed into jail and became notable for an epidemic that ravaged the facility. The District Agent then wrote that the church was infested to the point that no one feared to enter it. The only construction from the 17th century is the altar in the right wing. The church has been designated as a historic structure. The Passage Sainte-Croix runs along the south side of the church.

Bienvenue au Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Verdelais

For almost 900 years, it has been a pilgrimage site and Marian sanctuary dedicated to Mary. The location was built upon the return of a Crusader who followed his pledge to the Blessed Virgin, and it is now occupied by many religious congregations, each of which contributes to its enrichment. Verdelais currently encompasses a 12th-century church, a magnificent Stations of the Cross, a spiritual center, a museum of holy art, a park, and a spot steeped in legend. Verdelais, located just 45 kilometers south of Bordeaux, has been a Marian sanctuary since 1112. During the time, the knight Géraud de Graves, returning from the first crusade in the Holy Land between 1096-1099, honored the wish of the Blessed Virgin to erect an oratory in her honor if he returned victoriously.