Sauternes (wine) Château d'Yquem, can be very expensive, due largely to the very high cost of production. Barsac lies within Sauternes, and is entitled to use either name. Somewhat similar but less expensive and typically less-distinguished wines are produced in the neighboring regions of Monbazillac, Cérons, Loupiac and Cadillac. In the United States, there is a semi-generic label for sweet white dessert wines known as "sauterne" without the "s" at the end and uncapitalized. As in most of France, viticulture is believed to have been introduced into Aquitania by the Romans. The earliest evidence of sweet wine production, however, dates only to
Graves (wine region) Pessac-Léognan. This has had the effect of devaluing the name and price of wines simply labeled with the Graves appellation. As with Médoc, Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape, but a somewhat greater proportion of Merlot is typically used in the blend, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The dry white wines are a blend of Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon. A well-known sweet white dessert wine is made in the commune of Sauternes, which is located in the southeast corner of the Graves region. The Graves subregion contains the following "Appellations d'origine contrôlées" (AOCs). Graves AOC