What is a Dessert Wine? A Complete Guide

Dessert Wine

Some dessert wines contain as much as 1 cup of sugar per standard wine bottle, while others contain just 3-4 tablespoons. But sugar content isn’t an indicator of quality. The best dessert wines have a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity so they aren’t sickly sweet or too cloying. In this guide we’ll explore what dessert wines are and how to find the right one for you.

Highlights:

• Dessert wines have more residual sugar than regular wines and they’re designed to be enjoyed with or instead of dessert. 

• Ice wine is made by leaving the grapes on the vine in winter until they freeze.

• Pair dessert wines with dishes that are at least as sweet as the wine or with salty foods for contrast.

What is a Dessert Wine?

A dessert wine is sweeter than regular table wines because they’re designed to be served after a meal with a dessert or as an alternative to a dessert. Some naturally have higher residual sugar because they’re made from very ripe grapes. Ice wine is made in cold climates like Canada and New York state by leaving the grapes on the vines in the winter until they freeze. The frozen water can then be pressed out, concentrating the remaining sugar and flavors. 

There’s also a special type of fungus called “noble rot” which shrivels the grapes and concentrates the sugars. This is used to make some of the best dessert wines in the world like Sauternes from France and Tokaji from Hungary. 

Fortified wines like Port are sweet because the winemaker adds brandy to stop the fermentation process early. This boosts the alcohol content and leaves more residual sugar because less sugar from the grape juice is converted to alcohol. Some dessert wines are blended with grape juice or naturally sweet wines to achieve the winemaker’s desired sweetness.

Dessert Wine Pairing Guide

Dessert wines can be tricky to pair with food since they are often very sweet. Stick to desserts that are at least as sweet as the wine or salty foods to emphasize contrast.

• Chocolate-based desserts: Ruby or Tawny Port wines pair beautifully with chocolate desserts thanks to the intense dark fruit flavors and luscious sweetness.

• Fruit-based desserts: Match these with intensely-sweet, aromatic and fruity wines like Ice Wine or late-harvest Riesling. 

• Cheese: Many dessert wines work great with cheeses because the sweetness contrasts with the intense salty flavors. Top dessert wines for cheese boards include Sauternes with blue cheeses like Roquefort or Gorgonzola, Port with aged cheddar, or Moscato d’Asti with softer cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

• Spicy dishes: Lighter dessert wines like Rieslings also pair well with spicy curries and Asian cuisine since the sweetness helps balance the heat of the spice. 

What Are The Best Dessert Wines?

Dessert wines come in a huge range of styles and price points, from thousands of dollars for the finest Sauternes to under $15 for a refreshing and simple Moscato d’Asti. Here’s some of the best white dessert wines currently available on the market as chosen by our Bottle Barn wine experts:

• 2009 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes is a superb example of top drawer Sauternes from France’s Bordeaux region. This intensely sweet dessert wine is made using noble rot to concentrate the sugars and add seductive honey, caramel and apricot notes. This vintage was awarded an impressive 98 points by both James Suckling and Wine Advocate. 

• 1994 Fonseca Vintage Port is one of the best vintage Ports money can buy with a perfect 100-point score from Wine Spectator. This classic fortified wine could easily age for another two to three decades, although it’s ideal to enjoy now alongside a hearty cheeseboard. 

• Giacomo Mori Vinsanto del Chianti is a lusciously sweet dessert wine from Tuscany in Italy. In Italian “vinsanto” means “holy wine” and this special wine is created by drying the grapes out over the winter until they become raisins. They’re then fermented to create a rich, intensely sweet wine with notes of candied fruit, dried figs, and nuts.

Buy Dessert Wine Online

At Bottle Barn we’ve been sourcing quality wines from all over the world for over three decades. That’s why so many of our customers rate us as the best online wine store. Discover great wine on sale in our dedicated dessert wine collection and conveniently buy wine online in our shop.