Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

The place

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is 1 commune on the right bank of the Garonne, its village and vines set on a cliff of starfish limestone that looks across the river at Sauternes and Barsac. The limestone is covered with sandy, gravelly clay and the molasse of the Agenais, and the brown limestone soils carry the broken shells of fossil oysters. The mists that rise where the Ciron meets the Garonne, and a wind that is almost always there, bring on the noble rot. Some growers still keep their wine in caves dug into the cliff. About 50 producers give some 370 hectares to the appellation and make an average of 12,000 hectoliters.

The rules

Sweet white only, from Muscadelle, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon, with Sémillon by far the largest share. At least 5,000 vines a hectare, in rows no more than 2.20 meters apart. The grapes are picked by hand in successive passes, overripe, touched by noble rot or shriveled on the vine, and must carry 238 g/l of sugar for Sémillon and 229 for the others. The wine must reach 14.5% of natural alcohol, be sold at 12% at least and keep at least 45 g/l of sugar, at 40 hectoliters a hectare with a ceiling of 44. 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) in force, the appellation’s official rulebook, was last modified on December 29, 2025.

The names

No classification. The growers formed their syndicate in 1908. The Cour d’appel de Bordeaux drew the limits of the commune’s wine on July 28, 1930, and the decree of September 11, 1936 recognized the appellation inside them, on the same day as Loupiac next door. The habit of raising the wine in barrel and then in bottle goes back to about 1750, when the Dutch match, a sulfur wick burned in the cask, came into use.

Color

Sweet white

Communes

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, and no other

Vineyard

About 370 hectares, some 50 producers, an average of 12,000 hectoliters

Ground

Starfish limestone under sandy, gravelly clay; brown limestone soils with fossil oyster shell

Grapes

Muscadelle, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, Sémillon by far the largest share

Density

5,000 vines a hectare at least

Harvest

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

Yield

40 hectoliters a hectare, ceiling 44

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

AOC since

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

Source: FGVB, cahier des charges Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, arrêté du 29 décembre 2025