Loupiac

The place

Loupiac is 1 commune on the right bank of the Garonne, facing Barsac and Sauternes across the river. 24 neighboring communes, Sauternes and Barsac among them, make up the area of immediate proximity, where the wine may be made but not grown. Under the vines lies starfish limestone, with layers of clay where the limestone has weathered; the slopes that face south carry brown soils, more or less limestone and more or less stony, and those that face north and east carry wind-blown silts. The relief is what makes the wine possible, because it holds the autumn damp the noble rot needs. About 300 hectares and around 50 producers make an average of 10,000 hectoliters.

The rules

Sweet white only, from Sémillon, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle. At least 5,000 vines a hectare, rows no more than 2 meters apart and vines no closer than 1 meter in the row, at 40 hectoliters a hectare with a ceiling of 44. The grapes are picked by hand in successive passes through the rows and must carry 238 g/l of sugar for Sémillon and 229 for the other varieties. The wine must reach 14.5% of natural alcohol, be sold at 12% at least and keep at least 45 g/l of unfermented sugar. It is raised until January 15 and sold from January 31 of the year after the harvest. The cahier des charges (the appellation’s official rulebook), the appellation’s official rulebook, was last modified on December 29, 2025.

The names

No classification governs Loupiac today, but the wine was ranked long ago: André Jullien, the Paris wine merchant whose Topographie de tous les vignobles connus surveyed the vineyards of the world, placed the first growths of Loupiac level with the second growths of Sauternes in 1832. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, the commune next door, was recognized by the same decree of September 11, 1936 and keeps almost the same rules, yields, sugars and dates, differing only in how close the vines may stand. Cadillac, upriver, is the strict one of the 3: recognized in 1973 over 22 communes, it asks for 15% of natural alcohol, 255 g/l of sugar in the must, 51 g/l left in the wine and a yield of 37 hectoliters a hectare.

Color

Sweet white

Communes

Loupiac, and no other; 24 more make up the area of immediate proximity

Vineyard

About 300 hectares, around 50 producers, an average of 10,000 hectoliters

Ground

Starfish limestone with clay left by weathering; brown, more or less stony limestone soils facing south; wind-blown silts facing north and east

Grapes

Sémillon, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle

Density

5,000 vines a hectare at least

Yield

40 hectoliters a hectare, ceiling 44

Harvest

By hand, in successive passes; 238 g/l of sugar for Sémillon, 229 for the others

Alcohol

14.5% natural at least, sold at 12% at least; 45 g/l of sugar left

Release

From January 31 of the year after the harvest

Classified

No classification

Next door

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, recognized the same day and on almost the same rules; Cadillac, of 1973, asks for 15% of alcohol, 255 g/l in the must and 51 g/l left, at 37 hectoliters a hectare

AOC since

September 11, 1936; cahier modified on December 29, 2025

Sources: FGVB, cahier des charges Loupiac, arrêté du 29 décembre 2025 · FGVB, cahier des charges Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, arrêté du 29 décembre 2025 · FGVB, cahier des charges Cadillac, arrêté du 29 décembre 2025 · Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, Loupiac