sauterne
lowformal/technical
Definition
Meaning
A sweet white wine from the Sauternes region of France.
Any sweet white wine made in a similar style, sometimes from other regions, often served as a dessert wine.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is derived from the Sauternes region in Bordeaux, France. In English, it is sometimes spelled without the final 's' and may be used generically for similar wines, though this is discouraged by purists.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling may occasionally vary (Sauterne vs. Sauternes), but both are understood.
Connotations
Connotes sophistication, fine dining, and dessert courses in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to historical wine trade connections, but overall low in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
a bottle of sauternea glass of sauternesauterne with dessertVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in wine import/export, retail, and hospitality industries to describe a specific product.
Academic
Appears in oenology, viticulture, and culinary arts texts discussing wine types and production.
Everyday
Rare; typically used in restaurant settings or when discussing fine dining.
Technical
Employed by sommeliers, winemakers, and wine critics to specify a style of botrytized sweet wine.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We drank sauterne with our cake.
- This wine is called sauterne.
- I bought a bottle of sauterne for the dinner party.
- Sauterne is a sweet wine from France.
- The sommelier recommended a sauterne to accompany the fruit tart.
- Unlike many white wines, sauterne has a rich, honeyed flavour.
- The 2001 Château d'Yquem is a legendary sauterne that commands astronomical prices at auction.
- Her dissertation explored the impact of botrytis cinerea on the terroir of the Sauternes region, where sauterne is produced.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Sauterne' sounds like 'so turn' to dessert because it's a sweet wine often served after a meal.
Conceptual Metaphor
Sauterne is liquid gold (referring to its color, sweetness, and value).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с обычным белым вином; это конкретный сорт десертного вина.
- Может транслитерироваться как "сотерн" или "сотэрн", но это одно и то же.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'sauternes' (the French region) when referring to the wine generically.
- Using it as a generic term for any white wine.
- Pronouncing it with a French accent in English contexts, which may sound affected.
Practice
Quiz
What is sauterne?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, traditional sauterne is a sweet wine, often due to botrytis (noble rot) affecting the grapes.
Chill it lightly (around 10-12°C) and serve it with desserts, foie gras, or blue cheese.
Yes, high-quality sauterne can age for decades, developing complex flavours of honey, apricot, and caramel.
Sauternes (with an 's') is the French appellation; 'sauterne' (without 's') is the English term for the wine style, sometimes used for similar wines outside the region.