An elegant sweet wine from the Sauternes region of western France. It's made from sauvignon blanc or semillon grapes that have been infected by a beneficial mold called botrytis cinerea, which causes the grapes to shrivel, leaving a sugary fruit with concentrated flavors. The best Sauternes come from vines that have been hand-picked (as many as 12 separate times) to ensure that the grapes are not removed from the vines before reaching the perfect degree of ripeness required for these wines. Sauternes are most notable as dessert wines but, because of their high acidity, they also make excellent partners for rich dishes like pâté, caviar and foie gras. "Sauterne" without the ending "s" usually refers to an inexpensive semisweet California wine.