How Sweet

What to know about Château d'Arche, the winery behind one of the best sweet wines around.

- Hannah Choo

THE FRENCH DON’T typically like dubbing it a dessert wine, but call it what you want, the sweet, palate-cleansing wine that is Sauternes is delicious not just with sweet treats, but spicy Asian dishes as well. Now, isn’t that appealing for the average Singaporean? Brought to you by a small appellation in Bordeaux, Sauternes typically boasts a smooth viscosity with notes of apricot, honey and butterscotch, and a golden-yellow hue that deepens as time goes by. It is a labour of love made from handpicked grapes (mostly semillon) affected by botrytis cinerea (a fungus known as ‘noble rot’), explains Solène Loutter, a business developer at Château d’Arche, one of the region’s older estates. Château d’Arche, founded in 1580 and passed through several owners, is located in one of the finest terroirs in Sauternes and a good bet for anyone interested in beginning their sweet, sweet journey. Loutter offers a little more insight to the wine, chateau and region.

What makes Sauternes unique and distinctive?