Saussignac is an appellation for sweet wines within the Bergerac wine region of southwestern France. Sandwiched between the much more famous appellations of Monbazillac and Bordeaux, the tiny output of Saussignac is often overlooked. Nevertheless, Saussignac wines are complex and age-worthy, often associated with flavors of acacia, peach and honeysuckle.
The vineyard area covers the land surrounding the town of Saussignac on the southern banks of the Dordogne river. Here, the land rises up from the river before flattening out into a plateau with many small hills carved by tributaries of the river. It is on these hills that the majority of viticulture takes place – although this is interspersed with other kinds of agriculture.
Saussignac has many similarities with Monbazillac, both in terms of the wine style and the terroir. The maritime climate and the presence of the river make for early morning humidity during the growing season, followed by warm, sunny afternoons. These conditions are perfect for the development of Botrytis cinerea in the grapes (as in Monbazillac) leading to the production of sweet, luscious wines.
Permitted grape varieties are also the same, with Saussignac wines being made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and in particular, Muscadelle. However, winemaking stipulations in Saussignac are slightly stricter than in Monbazillac, with higher levels of residual sugar and minimum natural alcohol specified.
As in Monbazillac, Saussignac producers have made a recent commitment to quality and, as of 2004, mechanical harvesting is prohibited in the vineyards. Instead, the tries successives technique is usually used by harvesters, as it is in the famous vineyards of Sauternes, some 40 miles (65km) to the west. More and more Saussignac wines are made exclusively from botrytis-affected grapes, in which case they may be labeled as "Liquoreux".
The soils in Saussignac vineyards are generally made up of clay limestone, although this varies slightly across the area. These soils retain sufficient water from periods of rainfall to ensure vines are hydrated throughout the drier growing season. Saussignac's climate is similar to that of nearby Bordeaux, although a slightly more inland location means there is more seasonal variation in temperatures.
Being a part of the larger Bergerac region, growers have plentiful choices regarding the appellations they may claim. As sweet wines may also be labeled under the Bergerac and Cotes de Bergerac appellations (along with dry red and white wines), the Saussignac AOC is usually reserved for the best sweet wines.
