Dessert wine – fine sweet wines for special moments of pleasure
What are dessert wines?
Dessert wines are a special category of wine characterised by their intense sweetness and full body. They are traditionally served at the end of a meal with dessert or with cheese. The term ‘dessert wine’ is not strictly defined, but it includes both wines that have been fortified with alcohol and those whose intense sweetness comes from the concentration of the natural grape sugars. These wines offer an unrivalled taste experience and are a highlight for any wine lover.
Dessert wine: the perfect way to round off a meal
A high-quality dessert wine is the crowning glory of a successful meal. Whether as a sweet end to a meal, as an accompaniment to cheese, nuts or dried fruit – these fine sweet wines offer an unrivalled taste experience. Sweet wines such as port and marsala are often enjoyed at the end of a meal due to their sweet aromas. Dessert wines are particularly appreciated for their intense flavours, which range from honey and spices to exotic fruits and raisins.
From the dessert wines of the Valais, to those of the French Sauternes region and Austria's Burgenland, to the fine ice wines of Germany – dessert wines are produced in the best wine regions around the world. The wide variety of grape varieties, production methods and vintages is what makes this special wine category so fascinating for wine lovers.
How dessert wine is made: sugar, yeast and the right method
Producing an outstanding sweet wine requires expertise and passion. The high sugar content in these wines is created by various methods, including:
- Noble rot or botrytis: Noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) causes high sugar levels by reducing the water content in the grapes. This is used in wines such as Sauternes or Trockenbeerenauslese from Germany and Burgenland.
- Ice wine: for this method, the grapes are harvested at temperatures below -7 °C so that the water in the berries remains frozen. This concentrates the natural sugar.
- Spätlese and Auslese: the concentration of grape juice increases as a result of the grapes ripening for longer.
- Fortified sweet wines: By adding alcohol during the fermentation process, some of the natural sugars are retained, as in port or muscatel wines from Portugal.
Grape varieties for sweet wines: From Riesling to Merlot
A great dessert wine starts with the right grape variety. Some grape varieties are particularly well suited for the production of sweet wines:
- Riesling – Popular in Germany and Austria, with high acidity and intense fruit flavours.
- Scheurebe – Aromatic, often with exotic notes, particularly appreciated in Germany.
- Chardonnay – Used for noble sweet wines from France and California.
- Sauvignon Blanc – Known for the noble sweet Sauternes wines from France.
- Traminer – Often grown in South Africa, Hungary and Austria, with spicy aromas.
- Muscat – Intense fruit and sweetness, common in Portugal, Sicily and France.
- Merlot – Used for fortified sweet wines or late harvest wines.
Types of dessert wine
There are different types of dessert wines, each characterised by different production methods and grape varieties:
- Liqueur wines: These wines are produced by adding alcohol, which stops the fermentation and gives the sweetness. Examples are Port and Muscat wines.
- Naturally sweet wines: These wines are produced by concentrating the natural sugar in the grapes. Well-known examples are Sauternes and Trockenbeerenauslese.
- Ice wines: These wines are made from grapes that have been concentrated by frost. The frozen state of the grapes ensures that the water in the berries remains frozen, thus concentrating the natural sugars.
- Trockenbeerenauslese: These wines are made by fermenting grapes that have been concentrated by drying. They are characterised by a particularly high sweetness and intense aromas.
International top wines: From Germany to South Africa
Dessert wine is produced with great passion in many countries. Some of the most famous regions for sweet wines are:
- Sauternes (France) – home of legendary sweet wines with notes of honey, raisins and vanilla.
- Tokaji (Hungary) – the famous Tokaji Aszú wines with high sweetness and spicy character.
- Burgenland (Austria) – A top producer of ice wine and Trockenbeerenauslese.
- Portugal – Known for port and fortified sweet wines.
- Germany – Produces excellent Riesling Auslese wines and noble sweet Scheurebe wines.
- South Africa – High-quality Muscat and Chardonnay sweet wines with exotic fruit flavours.
- Sicily (Italy) – Famous for its Muscat wines and the noble sweet Moscato wines.
- Tuscany (Italy) – Among other things, it produces Vin Santo, a sweet wine with nuts and spices.
The perfect combination: dessert wine & food
A high-quality dessert wine can perfectly round off a meal. It goes ideally with:
- Cheese – blue and aged hard cheeses harmonise particularly well with dessert wines.
- Desserts – classics such as crème brûlée, chocolate cake or fruit are the perfect match.
- Nuts and dried fruit – the natural sugar content enhances the sweet flavours.
- Menus – Some dessert wines also go well with goose liver or Asian dishes with a slight sweetness.
Buying dessert wines
When buying dessert wines, there are a few important aspects to consider in order to find the perfect wine for your taste:
- Wine regions: dessert wines come from various renowned wine regions such as Austria, France and Germany. Each region brings forth its own unique flavours and qualities.
- Grape variety: dessert wines can be made from different grape varieties, including Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. Each grape variety gives the wine different flavour profiles.
- Vintage: the vintage can significantly influence the quality and taste of the wine. Older vintages are often more complex and have a more mature flavour.
- Awards: Some dessert wines have received accolades from well-known wine experts such as Robert Parker or James Suckling. These ratings can be a good indicator of the quality of the wine.
- Price: Dessert wines can vary in price depending on their quality and origin. It is worth investing in a high-quality wine to enjoy an unforgettable taste experience.
Dessert wine: filter & sort for the perfect indulgence experience
There is a wide range of dessert wines to choose from, so it's worth sorting them according to various criteria. In many online shops, you can filter the results by grape variety, wine region, price and vintage to find the ideal sweet wine.
Whether you are looking for a fresh ice wine, a fine Sauternes or a sweet Muscat from Sicily, the world of dessert wines offers the perfect drink for every taste.
Our wine recommendations for dessert wine, sweet wine and liqueur wine
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Interesting facts about dessert wines, sweet wines and liqueur wines
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about dessert wines.
What types of dessert wine are there?
German dessert wines come in different quality levels, which are referred to as predicates. These predicates range from Kabinett to Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese, and finally to Eiswein. Each of these levels represents a noble sweet wine with slightly different degrees of ripeness and aromas.
What is dessert wine?
Dessert wine is a red or white wine with a high residual sweetness, which is why it is often served with dessert. But dessert wine is also wonderful as an aperitif.
What is sweet wine called?
Dessert wines include varieties such as Muscat, Caluso Passito, Tokay, Málaga and Samos. Port and Málaga are also worth considering. Particularly well-aged ports go extremely well with opulent desserts.
When should you drink a dessert wine?
Dessert wines or sweet wines are full-bodied wines with an intense sweetness. Traditionally, they are enjoyed at the end of a meal with dessert or cheese.