Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is a village in the southern part of the Bordeaux wine region which gives its name to a sweet white wine appellation. Located on the northern bank of the Garonne river, this small appellation is part of the large Entre-Deux-Mers sub-region. Wines qualifying for the title must be made from Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon or Sauvignon Gris grapes, grown exclusively in the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont commune. They must also have a minimum potential alcohol level of 14.5%.
The best of the wines made under the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation are similar to those produced in Sauternes and Barsac on the other side of the Garonne, although they are significantly less expensive. Unlike Cerons, another sweet wine appellation overshadowed by Sauternes, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont currently has a number of producers taking on the financial risk of producing high-quality, sweet white wines. The risks relate to the unreliable nature of botrytis – the benevolent fungus essential to production of these wines – and the costs of the barrel maturation common to the best sweet whites.
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont wines are widely accepted as an affordable alternative to the famously expensive 'sticky' wines such as Chateau d'Yquem. They may also be labeled under the Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux appellation (now part of the Cotes de Bordeaux appellation created in 2009), although this is not common.
