Sainte-Croix-du-Mont Wine

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is a village in the southern part of the Bordeaux wine region, which gives its name to a sweet white wine appellation. On the northern bank of the Garonne river, this small appellation is part of the large Entre-Deux-Mers subregion.

Wines qualifying for Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation status must be made from Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, or Sauvignon Gris grapes, grown exclusively in the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont commune. They must have a minimum potential alcohol level of 14.5%.

The best of the wines made under the appellation Sainte-Croix-du-Mont are similar to those made in Sauternes and Barsac, on the other side of the Garonne, although they are significantly less expensive. Unlike Cerons, another sweet wine appellation overshadowed by Sauternes, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont currently has a number of producers taking the financial risk of producing high-quality sweet white wines. The risks stem the unreliable nature of botrytis - the benevolent fungus essential to the production of these wines - and from the costs associated with the barrel maturation common to the best sweet whites. These wines are widely accepted as an affordable alternative to famously expensive 'sticky' wines such as Chateau d'Yquem.

Wines made in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont may also be labeled under the Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux appellation (now part of the Cotes de Bordeaux appellation created in 2009), although this is not common.