Pair Your Evenings With Grace
The Grape Escape
Also known as Pudding Wines in the United Kingdom, many sweet wines are typically served at the end of a meal. Dessert Wines are a broad category of sweet wines having a higher alcohol content than other types of wines. These wines worldwide are made in a wide range of styles.
Wines come from different grape varieties and sweetness levels. Some are made with dried grapes, while others undergo fortification. Yet there are others that are a product of noble rot or freezing temperatures.
Good wines usually tend to enhance the experience of dishes when properly paired. The same goes for the dessert course. Typical descriptors of tasty dessert wines span candied fruits, hints of spices, and nuts, and are most ideal for cheese courses.
We are breaking down the top popular dessert wine types here to help you narrow down the selection.
Asti Wines:
It would be a blessing to get introduced to the world of wine with a bottle of Moscato d’Asti. This sweet and lightly effervescent wine is well worth the experience. The halted fermentation process employed here means the result is naturally sweet and low in ABV. It is therefore no surprise that Asti is perfectly suited to take you from brunch to dessert pairings by way of an appetizer.
Asti Spumante is ideal if you are looking for something more serious. This dessert wine is also produced from perfumed Moscato grapes. It showcases fine bubbles that add a layer of elegance while the ABV is more in line with table wine. Yet this sweet wine retains a delicate quality along with decidedly floral aromatics and fruit-forward notes. Both these features make wines win with fruity desserts and soft creamy cheeses. Or you can choose to tame the heat and serve them with a spicy dish.
The Vietti Moscato d’Asti will make you forget the rest for a while. Or go for a bottle of Bartenura Asti if you are in for a kick.
Icewine:
This dessert wine is Canada and Germany’s claim to fame. It is a frosty treat that owes its process of production to below-freezing temperatures. However, icewine grapes are naturally frozen while sitting on vines late into winter before harvesting time. Then there are numerous factors that can contribute to reduced yields. Including birds, diseases, pests, and rot. This is the reason icewine tends to be pricey, and rightfully so. Producing a standard 375-ml bottle of icewine requires over 6 pounds of grapes compared to 2.5 pounds of fruits to make a 750-ml bottle of regular wine.
Nevertheless, splurging on icewine is a luscious way to toast a special occasion. A variety of grapes are used for producing icewine, including cabernet franc, hybrid vidal, muscat, and riesling. Moreover, the late harvesting time results in plenty of residual sugar. The end result is a natural high-acid dessert wine that goes fresh and enjoyable on the palate.
Icewine is excellent for wrapping up a gourmet dinner with a small glass of wine. This dessert wine is a perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. You can also choose to serve ice wine with chocolate, cream-based desserts, or fruits to enhance the experience. Though dessert wines imply a particular course, you will love to probe ice wine as an aperitif. Or to pair it with a spicy dish.
We recommend you enjoy the red hybrid Chambourcin from Johnson Estate Winery in New York, or a bottle of Inniskillin vidal icewine from Ontario, Canada.
Lambrusco:
It is a fact that red sparkling wines get very little shelf space at the wine shop. However, this is not an indication of their quality. It is because they rarely add to the appeal. Nevertheless, there are more reasons to seek out a bottle on your next shopping trip. Lambrusco comes in various styles. Right from sweet to dry and lightly effervescent to sparkling wines. They are all made with local grape varieties from the Emilia Romagna province in Italy.
The average versions of Lambrusco from the ‘70s and ’80s give this dessert wine a questionable reputation. However, it is time to let go of the past and look for the word ‘Dolce’ on bottle labels. It gives a clue that the contents of the bottle are sweet. And go for ‘Amabile’ for a semi-dry option. It is better that you skip over any label that says ‘secco; if you are looking for a stellar dessert wine.
Explore the wonderful world of Lambrusco. A bottle of Reggiano Medici sweet by Medici Ermete will offer notable violet aromas along with red fruit undertones. It is excellent when served with fruity desserts. Or just sipped on alone to experience the wine to its fullest potential.
Madeira:
This is a humble Portuguese dessert wine that deserves attention. Madeira was being shipped from its namesake island to England over 500 years ago. It was quite popular among the royal class. The unique winemaking process of Madeira is a heating step. It originally occurred as a byproduct of the long sea voyage in the days gone by. Nowadays, this method is deliberate and entails heating the tanks. It is either done directly or by storing them within a warm environment. It results in imparting aromas and novel flavors alongside partly benefitting by oxidizing the wine to preserve it for a long time.
Madeira is primarily made with local white wine grapes. And which eventually dictates the final style. They come from light and dry to rich luscious dessert wines. You can look for Bual or Malmsey on the label on the sweeter end of the spectrum. These grape varieties produce deep and complex aromas. Along with the flavor profiles to match all tastebuds. The dried raisin and caramel notes of this dessert wine make Madeira pair well with chocolate, coffee-based desserts, fruit, and hard cheese.
For over 200 years now Blandy’s has been making this dessert wine. It still boasts of the quality to match the lengthy experience. Snag yourself a bottle of the label’s 5-year-old Bual for a worthy introduction. It offers warm aromas of dried fruit, toffee, and vanilla. And move further down the scale of sweetness with Barbeito’s Malvasia Old Reserve 10-year-old. This one retains elegance and freshness amidst the rich nutty notes of Madeira.
Recioto della Valpolicella:
Dry fruits almost always intensify the sweetness. Try chewing on a raisin. It is clear that the sugar becomes more concentrated as the water evaporates and leaves behind enhanced flavors. The Valpolicella region in Italy is well known for its pleasant red wines and bold Amarone. Recioto della Valpolicella is one of the oldest wines in the world. It is made by drying local red blended grapes on straw mats or racks.
The production of Recioto is halted to retain sweetness instead of fermenting it until all the sugar has been consumed by yeast. The end result of this dessert wine is dissipated with ripe flavors of berries and dark fruits on the palate. However, this rich dessert wine is far from honeying. The complex fruit aromas of this sweet wine fantastically pair with chocolate-based desserts as well as with treats that incorporate coffee, dried fruits, and nuts. So go ahead and sip on this dessert wine with a bottle by Albino Armani that is rich with cacao and dark fruit aromas.
Sauternes:
This dessert wine is named after the tiny region in Bordeaux, France. It is the region where two rivers meet to produce optimal conditions. Sauternes is one of its kind sweet wine that is loved by collectors and sweet wine drinkers alike. This luscious dessert sipper owes its flavors to noble rot which eventually turns out to be magical. The combination of morning fog and warm afternoon sun sets the noble rot apart from the type of mold that makes winemakers go crazy.
This dessert wine type is primarily made with sauvignon blanc and sémillon grape varieties. Small amounts of muscadelle and sauvignon gris are also added in some blends. The noble rot concentrates the flavors to intensify the aromas and highlight them with a streak of acidity as the grapes hang on the vines late into the season. The honeyed notes of this dessert wine elegantly mingle with caramel, coconut, and tropical fruits along with hints of baking spices. As a result, this sweet wine is wonderfully balanced and pairs beautifully with foie gras, fruit-based desserts, and soft cheeses.
Shelling out for a bottle of Château d’Yquem is in a league of its own. This winery classifies it as a prestigious Premier Cru Superieur. Choose the Château Suduiraut and Clos Haut-Peyraguey for a modest bottle of wine. They have the reputation, tradition, and excellent vineyard locations to back it all up. It is your prerogative to have them young or age them for a whole new bouquet of flavors.
Sherry:
Dry Fino styles are nowadays increasingly being served in trendy bars. And this dessert wine is no longer delegated as just a cooking wine to be kept in your fridge. After all, it is the sweet ones that make such a great pairing with your dessert course. Moscatel and Pedro Ximénez are both naturally sweet styles of Sherry. Each one of these dessert wines is named after the primary grape variety they utilize.
Pedro Ximénez is made from sun-dried grapes until the aromas and sugars become highly concentrated. This dessert wine is one of the sweetest wines on the market today. The intensity of this wine is balanced by a fresh acidity that complements the quasi-syrup-like nature of the drink. Dates, figs, and raisins all stand out along with chocolatey and spicy aromas. It is a classic way to serve Pedro Ximénez drizzled atop vanilla ice cream. The Moscatel Sherry is on the fruitier end of the spectrum of dessert wines. It comes with floral notes and a slightly drier finish. And thanks to the tamed sweetness it pairs extremely well with lighter fruit-based desserts.
Have more and try a bottle of Nectar PX by Gonzalez Byass. It brims with notes of dried fruits and syrup along with a lengthy caramel-tinged finish. Then look no further than Bodegas Dios Baco’s Esnobista Moscatel Pasa for candied aromas and hints of nuttiness.
Sweet Rieslings:
This dessert wine is often misconstrued as always being sweet. The searing acidity is what actually makes this variety an excellent candidate for dessert wines. Sweet Riesling minus the sugar, is best left to people who enjoy the tart taste that is nicely balanced with sweetness.
This dessert wine is made all around the world but its home country is Germany. This is where the grape is grown on a wide range of soils in numerous styles. You can, however, guarantee some amount of detectable sweetness in these wines unless it is labeled ‘trocken,’ which means’ dry. German bottle labels are notoriously hard to read. But it is worth keeping a few terms in mind. Remember to look for ‘Spätlese’, ‘Auslese’, ‘Beerenauslese’, ‘Trockenbeerenauslese’, and ‘Eiswein; from driest to the sweetest.
The latter three varieties are especially sweet and made from grapes with particular attributes. While Beerenauslese refers to grapes with noble rot; Trockenbeerenauslese is a wine produced with grapes that dry on the vine prior to harvesting time. Lastly, Eiswein is basically German Icewine. It is made from grapes that are frozen on the vine itself. Nevertheless, each of these wines offers layers of aromas that set it apart from the rest. But underlining features of Sweet Rieslings are present in all of these dessert wines. These include aromas of green apple, jasmine, lime, and white flowers that mingle in the glass. Additionally, another advantage is that Rieslings can be stored for longer periods than most other types of white wines.
However, these wines are typically pricey considering the arduous nature of the harvest. But don’t give up. Go ahead and try Dr. Loosen’s estate riesling Beerenauslese. This is a rich and honeyed wine with luscious ripe fruit aromas. The other favorite choice is the Eiswein from the same winery which is yet another excellent example of dessert wine.
Tawny Port:
It is likely for a bottle of Port to make its way to the table when dessert rolls around. This wine category is widely recognized as a favorite across the world. And Ports offer plenty of options for wine lovers. Tawny Port is yet another unique style that will enhance your dinner experience. This excellent dessert wine is made from a blend of Portuguese red grapes. However, each type of Port follows a different aging regimen. Tawny Ports include a minimum amount of time in oak until they produce the brownish-golden color it is named after.
The rich Tawny mouthfeel showcases nutty aromas, with caramel, dried fruits, and vanilla on the palate. And you will crave to have some nut-based treats to be served alongside this complex wine. Another option is to serve Tawny with a hard cheese like cheddar or manchego if you are looking for a savory contrast. Or choose to complement the caramelized flavor experience with a cinnamon-infused apple pie or crème brûlée.
Go ahead and pick up a bottle of Croft Reserve Tawny to enjoy the spiced nuances blending with the fruit if you like to take your love for the amber elixir a little further. Or settle for Cockburn’s 20-year-old Tawny brimming with notes of baking spices, and vanilla. Then there always is a limited edition of Taylor Fladgate’s Golden Age 50-year-old Port if you are in the mood to celebrate.
Tokaji Aszú:
The key feature of this dessert wine is noble rot. Tokaji Aszú name itself stems from its place of origin ‘Tokaj’. The Hungarian term for the botrytis grape variety is Aszú. Louis XV supposedly deemed this firewater to be the “Wine of Kings and King of Wines.” This wine is made from shriveled grapes that are hand-picked. It results in a very laborious production line worth every penny you spend, unlike some noble rot wines that solely include these grapes. Tokaji Aszú is a perfect blend of a base wine with the botrytis grapes. It retains a balanced acidity which is surprisingly refreshing although it is quite sweet.
Furmint is yet another local grape variety that is typically used. But it is the others like muscat and hárslevelű that infuse the wine with floral and fruity aromas. You can serve this complex wine with fruity desserts to extract more of the tropical notes. The acidity in this wine makes it alternately suitable for pairing it with blue varieties or light cheeses. Moreover, some of these wines are further aged in oak barrels. They add caramel, coconut, and vanilla, aromas to the palate. Pick up Château Megyer or Disznókő to discover notes of stone and tropical fruits alongside hints of spice in every sip. These are some of the finest examples of Tokaji Aszú.
Vin Doux Naturel:
The southern region of France is most popular for its rosé wines. These Naturally sweet wines like Vin Doux Naturel are fortified in order to halt the fermentation process. This results in notable levels of residual sugar in wines. Several other smaller parts in this region produce differing wine styles with selected grape varieties and regulations in place.
Thanks to the rich flavors of the primary grape variety Grenache, the Banyuls AOC receives plenty of glory. The outcome, however, depends upon its aging regimen. This wine offers more fruit-forward aromas on a nuttier profile. Moreover, this dessert wine is commonly stored in direct sun to evoke a peculiar character. M. Chapoutier is an esteemed producer of wines in this region. You would love to serve a bottle of Banyuls from them with a wanton slice of chocolate cake to bring out the cocoa and dark fruit aromas in the drink.
Other Vin Doux Naturel wine regions in France include Maury, Rasteau, and Rivesaltes. Muscat de Beaumes de Venise floral-style wines made with white muscat grapes are very popular among fans. These dessert wines contain notes of tropical fruit that lead the way to dried fruits and honey over time. You would be delighted to pour a glass by Domaine des Bernardins and enjoy the rose and stone fruit essence as an aperitif. Or you could love to serve it with a cheese course and fruity or nutty desserts.
Vin Santo:
There is a saintly spell about Vin Santo. It may be the painstaking process required to pull off this sweet wine. With ties to Tuscany, this dessert wine is typically produced from Trebbiano Toscano or Malvasia Bianca Lunga blended grapes. And thanks to Sangiovese, Vin Santo sometimes also comes in a red hue. However, what really sets this wine apart from the rest is the production process. It is known as appassimento during which ripe grapes after harvest are spread out on racks or straw mats in ventilated rooms for some months. This results in dried fruits with concentrated levels of aroma and sugar. The fruit is then pressed for juice and it undergoes a slow fermentation process followed by a few years of aging to build up layers of flavor.
There are some styles of this dessert wine that are vinified dry. But the best Vin Santo is rich and slick in sweetness. Nonetheless, this wine is traditionally enjoyed by dipping small almond biscotti in the glass. But you should refrain from tainting it with dry crumbs if you are keen to experience the wine at its purest. Feel free to sample a bottle of Red Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice made with Sangiovese grapes by San Lorenzo A Bibbiano. Or try Domini Castellare di Castellina Vin Santo S. Niccolò. This is a great classic white-style dessert wine with notes of caramel, candied, and dried fruits on the palate.
Vouvray Demi-Sec:
This is it when you would love to have a refreshing glass of bubbled dessert wine with zero perceptible residual sugar. And there are many occasions that call for the sweet stuff. Step out of the Champagne and Prosecco sparkling wine box and look around. Vouvray Demi-Sec is exciting, especially when it comes to sweet styles. It is a multifaceted appellation from France’s Loire Valley. Made with the chenin blanc grapes, these regional-style sparkling wines range from bracingly dry to lusciously sweet.
Chenin blanc is a delightfully nuanced grape variety. Wines made from it simultaneously showcase a sharp acidity alongside stone and tropical fruit notes. Moreover, floral aromas and minerality contrast in this forever-evolving wine space. It is worth seeking out bottles labeled Vouvray demi-sec for a sweet and sparkling version of this iconic wine style. This dessert wine says it all whether you are looking for a sweet start to the night or like to finish it off with effervescence. Go slow, sip on it, or pair it with fruit-based desserts, nuts, or soft cheeses. Pick up a bottle of De Chanceny Vouvray demi-sec par Excellence for a delightful balance of honeyed aromas, ripe fruits, and a stony finish.
You Deserve the Good Stuff
Dessert wines made are from both, red and white grapes that are much sweeter. Due to various styles of winemaking, they range in ABV from lower to higher in comparison to conventional table wines. Dessert wines also include techniques like interrupting the fermentation process to preserve residual sugars, leaving fruit on the vine for prolonged periods, or utilizing frozen or noble-rot-infected grapes. Some wines also use extremely dry-picked grapes as a source for fermentation.
Just as the methods of production differ, so do the styles of dessert wines. The most common types of these wines include fortified wines, ice wines, and sparkling wines. The range of dessert wines is vast. However, they are all crafted around the fact that they use a variety of grapes. But finding the perfect wine bottle can be a tough choice if you are limited to drier styles.
