All About Dessert Wines

When it comes to wine, most people think of red, white, or rosé. However, there is another category of wine that often goes overlooked: dessert wine. These sweet, rich wines are the perfect way to cap off a meal or enjoy it as a standalone treat. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at dessert wines and what makes them so special.

WHAT ARE DESSERT WINES?

Dessert wines are sweet and often have a higher alcohol content than regular wines. They are typically served after a meal as a digestif or paired with dessert, although they can also be enjoyed on their own. There are many different types of dessert wines, each with its unique flavor profile and production method.

LIGHTLY SWEET

Wines with only a hint of sweetness are ideal for the heat of the afternoon because of their reviving sweetness. The spiciness of meals like Indian or Southeast Asian cuisine goes particularly well with several of these sweet wines. Lightly sweet wines are at their best when consumed as near to the vintage date as is humanly possible, with the exception of exceptional examples such as German Riesling, which improves with age.

RICHLY SWEET

Richly sweet dessert wines are a delightful treat for those with a sweet tooth. These wines are made from grapes harvested later in the season when they have become overripe and have higher sugar content. The resulting wines are rich, full-bodied, and intensely sweet, with complex flavors of caramel, honey, dried fruit, and spices. They are often paired with rich desserts such as chocolate, caramel, or cheesecake or served as a stand-alone dessert. Richly sweet dessert wines include late-harvest wines, noble rot wines, and fortified wines like Port, Sherry, or our own Noir de Noir. These wines are best served slightly chilled to balance their sweetness and bring out their rich and complex flavors. They are also often used in mixed cocktails and have a longer shelf-life like other types of alcohol or liquor.

SWEET RED WINE

The powerful taste of red wine can be enjoyed while indulging your sweet tooth with sweet red wine dessert wines. These wines are created using red grape types that either naturally contain a lot of sugar or are produced in a way that keeps the sweetness of the fruit. With flavors of dark berries, cherries, and plums, as well as traces of spice and chocolate, they have a full-bodied, delicious flavor. Ruby Port, Tawny Port, and late harvest Zinfandel are a few examples of popular sweet red wine dessert wines. These wines go fantastically with cheese platters, fruit tarts, and decadent chocolate desserts. They are frequently served at a cool temperature, which helps counteract their sweetness and bring out the fruity flavors.

SPARKLING

A popular option for individuals who prefer a festive glass of bubbles, sparkling wine can also be the ideal dessert wine. Sparkling wines go well with sweet desserts because of their light, bubbly nature and crisp acidity. They come in various flavors, including toasted, nutty, fruity, and flowery. Fresh fruit, sorbet, and mousse are some light and delicious sweets that go well with these wines. Their bubbles can bring a playful and festive touch to any dessert occasion. They are best served chilled.

FORTIFIED

During the fermenting process, a distilled spirit, such as brandy, is added to a type of fortified wine. It produces a wine with more alcohol and a sweeter flavor, which makes it a preferred option for dessert wines. Port and Sherry are the two most well-known fortified wines. Rich, full-bodied port wine is available in various varieties, from dry to sweet. It goes great with cheese platters or decadent chocolate desserts. Contrarily, sherry is a flexible wine that is available in various types, from dry to sweet, and complements a variety of desserts, from nutty cakes to fruit tarts. Other fortified dessert wines include Marsala, Madeira, and Vermouth. These wines are frequently drunk leisurely after dinner or coupled with a dessert that has complementary characteristics. They are best served slightly chilled.

PAIRING DESSERT WINES

Dessert wines are a great way to cap off a meal or enjoy as a standalone treat. They pair well with desserts, including chocolate, fruit tarts, and cheesecake. When pairing dessert wines with food, choosing a wine that is sweeter than the dessert is important to balance out the flavors.

At GEN 7 Wines, we offer exceptional dessert wines, including our 2022 Noir de Noir and 2019 Muscat Blanc Reserve. These wines are a perfect way to cap off a meal or enjoy as a standalone treat. We invite you to visit our tasting room and experience our dessert wines' rich, sweet flavors.