Winery Overview & History
Château d’Yquem, the crown jewel of Sauternes, is the only estate ranked Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 Classification. Across centuries, Yquem has set the global benchmark for noble-sweet wines—renowned for purity, complexity, and extraordinary longevity.
Vineyard Location & Terroir
The estate lies on the highest knoll of Sauternes, with around 100 hectares in production. A mosaic of clay, gravel, and limestone over well-drained subsoils creates ideal conditions for noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). Morning mists from the Ciron and Garonne rivers, followed by sunny afternoons, enable berries to desiccate slowly and concentrate sugars, acids, and aromas.
Grape Varieties & Wine Style
Plantings are approximately 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Yquem’s style marries intensity and lift: saffron, apricot, candied citrus, honeyed florals, and crème brûlée, balanced by vibrant acidity. Properly cellared bottles can evolve for decades—often a century—gaining layers of spice, tea, and truffle.
Signature Wines
- Château d’Yquem (Grand Vin) — The world’s reference for botrytised sweet wine; only produced when quality meets the estate’s exacting standards.
- “Y” d’Yquem (Ygrec) — A limited, dry white Bordeaux blending Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc; mineral, textural, and gastronomic.
Notable vintages include 1921, 1945, 1959, 1967, 1975, 1983, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2009, 2011, among others.
Winemaking & Cellar Practices
Harvesting is by hand through multiple passes (tries)—often 6–10 selections—to pick only botrytised berries at peak concentration. Berries are pressed gently; fermentation and aging occur in French oak (a high proportion new). Élevage typically lasts about 3 years with meticulous racking and selection; wines not meeting the bar are declassified. Average output is roughly 65,000 bottles, but in weak years Yquem may forgo producing the Grand Vin entirely.
Visitor & Contact Information
Address: 33210 Sauternes, France
Phone: +33 5 57 98 07 07 | Fax: +33 5 57 98 07 08
Website: www.yquem.fr
Email: info@yquem.fr
Visiting: By appointment; typical office hours 08:30–12:30 & 14:00–17:30.
* Photo Courtesy of Tripadvisor