If sweet wine is pure pleasure for you, you've come to the right place
Sweet Wine or Dessert Wine?
Sweet wine is its own category of wine. Sweet wines, including dessert wines, owe their name to a milder taste than dry and off-dry varieties. Compared to most other wines, they taste sweeter. However, their sweetness varies in intensity: from medium sweet or mild to truly sweet. In terms of color, there are no restrictions: whether it's a sweet white wine or a sweet red wine – taste alone decides.
There are various reasons why dessert wines taste sweet. In fact, it can be due to the grape variety, which can be white or red. The respective production method also influences the later sweetness of a wine. For example, the flavor influence of the naturally occurring sugar in grapes is intensified by targeted concentration methods used by the winemaker.
One method, for example, is drying the grapes on the vine. Perhaps you have heard the term Trockenbeerenauslese (dry berry selection). Freezing grapes still on the vine also increases sweetness – keyword: ice wine. The sweetness of already harvested grapes can also be increased by drying them on mats, grids, or special wooden racks.
When the grape sweetness is additionally increased by such methods, experts speak of a "high must weight." You've probably heard of must weight before, and that grape juice and fruit wine are also sometimes called must. The exact sugar content of the must is expressed by the Oechsle degree unit, named after its inventor Ferdinand Oechsle. The Oechsle scale ranges from 40 °Oe to 150 °Oe. The higher the measured Oechsle degree, the sweeter the wine.
The 10 best sweet wines: our selection for you
But we won't keep you in suspense any longer and will reveal what we believe are the ten best wines in the "sweet wine" category. Of course, personal taste always plays a role in such assessments. We don't simply measure the tasted wines by Oechsle degrees and other methods measurable with instruments. Oh no, we proceeded much more sensuously: In close cooperation with the taste buds of our tongues and the general mouthfeel – keywords, for example: full-bodied, sparkling, or fresh – as well as with our own eyes – keywords, among others: color or clarity – we chose our favorites. Since wine assessments can never be neutral due to personal taste preferences, we don't even pretend they can be. The best thing is to taste them yourself and then create your own top list.
1. Sweet white wine: Neleman Chardonnay Muscat
Let's start with one of the most famous wines, Chardonnay. "Neleman Chardonnay Muscat" is a medium sweet Chardonnay Muscat, sweet and fruity in taste, and also organic. Its gentle sweetness ideally combines with subtle fruit acidity and mineral accents. Light aromas of peach and melon emphasize the fruity character. A sweet white wine like this is therefore excellent for pure enjoyment among friends on a mild summer evening or as a table wine with seafood and fish dishes.
2. White dessert wine à la vanilla: Sandeman Fine White Porto
Here comes a truly extravagant variation of a dessert wine. With this wine, you get not only tropical fruit aromas but also delicious vanilla notes in your glass. What the name also suggests: This fine drop is a wonderful creation from Portugal. If you would like to learn more about Port wine, read our article on this topic . In any case, we believe we can vouch for the idea of this sweet and fruity white wine with a vanilla aroma. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Form your own judgment and embark on this worthwhile experiment: The gentle aromas of white grapes form a successful liaison with delicately sweet vanilla flavor. Enjoyed neat, such a sweet wine also tastes great with salted nuts or sweet desserts.
3. Sweet white wine: Franz Hahn Riesling Spätlese
Riesling is one of the oldest known white wine varieties, and there are seemingly endless grape variations. Get to know this wine family through the "Franz Hahn Riesling Spätlese," a medium sweet white wine from the Franz Hahn winery. Spätlese means that the grapes are harvested quite late, thus having more time to develop their sweetness. Look forward to harmonious sweet-fruity aromas of peach, mirabelle plums, and grapefruits. The aroma alone is enticing! You'll hardly be able to wait for the first sip – and you won't be disappointed.
4. Sweet red wine: Stefanshof Rotes Cuvée Spätlese
This wonderful Austrian red wine comes from a winery that is also known for its Lipizzaner horse breeding in addition to its noble wines. You must get to know both: the medium sweet red wine cuvée Spätlese and Stefanshof. The medium sweet red wine, a blend of the two grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, already impresses in the glass with its powerful ruby hue before it unfolds its delicate fruit aromas on the nose and palate. This slightly sweet red wine tastes just as good as a solo drink as it does with antipasti, snacks or summer salads.
5. Medium sweet red wine: JP. Chenet Moelleux Rouge
JP. Chenet red wines in the "medium sweet" taste category are available in several variations - white and red. For a start, we recommend the "JP. Chenet Moelleux Red Wine". This pleasantly light red wine presents the aromas of red fruits such as redcurrants and currants against a backdrop of perfectly dosed sweetness. The aromas of dark fruits form the basic melody, which harmonizes well with salads, goat cheese, and fruits. If one of the JP. Chenet variations has convinced you, you will inevitably become curious about the others.
6. Sweet summer wine: Knöbl Erotica
We definitely don't want to withhold this extraordinary wine from East Styria from you. "Knöbl Erotica" has everything that promises an exciting drinking experience. Poured into the glass, the light red wine radiates with what feels like five different color accents. The light fruity wine with aromas of gooseberries, strawberries, and raspberries does not disappoint in taste either. A round, berry flavor with a medium sweet fruity finish completes the taste experience. A medium sweet wine that can definitely be recommended for warm summer evenings!
7. Sweet ice wine: Hillinger Traminer Eiswein
You've been waiting for this type of wine, as it seems perfect for a refreshing end to a summer day, right? Well, its serving temperature is no different from other wines. This wine was only icy on the vine. The grapes intended for ice wine are not harvested until winter, after they have frozen on the vine. This frost makes the grapes sweeter than with the usual autumn harvest. Ice wine is something special. Its luscious taste is the result of a complex production process with high risks. The late winter grape harvest yields less, and there can even be a total loss of the grapes intended for ice wine. This explains the higher price compared to other wines. The production of ice wine reminds one a bit of poker, don't you think?
In any case, treat yourself and your guests to an ice wine, for example, the golden-yellow "Hillinger Traminer Eiswein" in the glass. Here, the powerful sweetness of the wine optimally combines with the acidity typical of white wine. The result is a luscious, refreshing wine with notes of roses, perfect for a balmy summer evening.
8. Sweet and fruity white wine as sparkling wine: Martini Sparkling Wine Asti
With its sparkling vibrancy, sparkling wine revitalizes the spirits after hot summer days. The sun-yellow "Martini Sparkling Wine Asti" from the Italian region of Piedmont radiates summery freshness just by its appearance. You will hardly be able to wait for the first sip. Aromas of mildly sweet grape juice, elderflower, and sage playfully caress your tongue, mischievously accompanied by mild fruit acidity and peach notes. Tell me, can a summer sparkling wine be better? In any case, this sparkling wine is perfect when served chilled in an ice bucket.
9. Italian sweet wine: Florio Vecchioflorio Marsala Superiore Dolce
Italian dessert wine with seven letters? The answer to this popular crossword puzzle question is Marsala – and it's also a great wine recommendation for our article on the best sweet wines.
Marsala comes from the deep south of Italy, namely from the island of Sicily. Strictly speaking, the wine named after the Sicilian port city of Marsala is a fortified wine, meaning a wine that has been additionally enriched with alcohol. This means Marsala has a few more degrees of alcohol than usual sweet wines: around 18% alcohol instead of the usual half.
We would like to recommend the Marsala "Florio Vecchioflorio" to you. It is very popular not only in its homeland but also here. Enjoyed neat, it is excellent with pastries and spicy cheeses as well as with chocolate desserts. Or you can use it as a topping over sweet pudding, ice cream, and fruit salad.
10. Finally, a good Port wine: Kopke Fine Tawny Porto
As a Portuguese sweet wine specialty, Port wine delights everyone at the end of the day, even those for whom light sweet wines are not necessarily a must in summer. With a slightly higher-alcohol sweet wine like "Fine Tawny Porto" from Kopke, you make a good choice. The full-bodied orange-brown sweet wine tastes of ripe honey-sweet fruits with a hint of vanilla. Overall, a diverse sweet aroma develops on the palate, which lingers long after the last sip.
Sweet wine for all occasions
When it comes to wine, tastes are known to differ. If you always have a few bottles of medium sweet or sweet wine at home, you prove yourself to be a really good host or hostess. Many people enjoy wine, just not always the dry varieties. By the way, sweet wine is also an excellent gift idea.
FAQ – Sweet Wine & Dessert Wine
What is the difference between sweet wine and dessert wine? +
"Sweet wine" is its own category of wine. This includes sweet wines, dessert wines, and others. They generally taste milder and sweeter than dry or off-dry wines, with sweetness ranging from medium sweet to distinctly sweet.
What makes a wine taste sweet? +
The sweetness of a wine can depend on the grape variety, but it is primarily influenced by the production method. A late harvest, drying the grapes on the vine, or drying after harvesting increases the natural sugar content.
What does "must weight" mean and how is it related to sweetness? +
Must weight describes the sugar content in grape must and is measured in Oechsle degrees (°Oe). The higher the Oechsle degree, the more sugar is contained in the must – and the sweeter the resulting wine can be.
What is ice wine – and why is it often more expensive? +
Ice wine is made from grapes that freeze on the vine and are harvested only in winter. The frost concentrates the sugar and aromas while preserving the acidity. Since the harvest is risky and the yield is low, ice wine is usually among the higher-priced wines.
Which sweet wines are suitable for different occasions – and where can I find a good selection? +
Sweet wines are suitable on their own for relaxed evenings, as an accompaniment to cheese and desserts, or as a gift idea. If you want to discover different styles such as Spätlese, ice wine, Port wine, Marsala, or sweet sparkling wine, you will also find a refined and versatile selection at delicando.
