Your Guide To Sweet Wines
True to their collective name, sweet wines are in essence sweeter compared to other types due to several factors. To determine which wines are sweet, sommeliers or wine experts often consider aroma, amount of sugar, alcohol level, tannin content, and acidity present in a particular type of wine:
*** Aroma ***
Just like how our eyes eat first before our mouths, our noses “taste” wines first before our tongues. Catching a whiff from a glass of wine adds quite a lot to the drinking experience, so much so that wines that exude a sweet and floral aroma often give off the impression that they are just as sugary.
*** Residual Sugar ***
Much like in home brewing beer, sugar is a vital ingredient in winemaking. This particular one refers to the amount of leftover sugar after the wine is fully fermented. Wines with 45 grams per liter of residual sugar are generally considered sweet.
*** Alcohol ***
Sweet wines often have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of ten percent or lower, which is comparatively lower than other wines and alcoholic beverages.
*** Tannin ***
This is a drying and bitter natural substance that disperses into wines during the fermentation process from the grapes’ skin, stems, and seeds. Good sweet wines tend to have a lower amount of this compound.
*** Acidity ***
Most sweet wines have lower acidity because sourness counteracts the sweetness. More acidic wines tend to have a more dominant sourness and a drying feel overall.
Each kind of wine is bound to have different concentrations of these components. Wines with little to no sweetness are categorized as “dry wines.” On the other end of the spectrum, sweet wines can be classified anywhere from semi-sweet wines to very sweet. Refer to the sweet wine chart below for more information.
The best sweet wines don’t achieve their prime state by accident. Instead, they require specific ingredients, such as very ripe grapes with more inherent sugar content. Another popular option among winemakers is to use sun-dried grapes or raisins with a more concentrated sweetness as opposed to fresh, plump grapes filled with water. The variety of grapes used to produce the wine can also be factored in, as some are naturally sweeter than others.
Special procedures can also be done. For instance, some winemakers stop fermentation early to preserve more residual sugar. Yeast can be filtered and extracted from the mixture to halt the fermentation process altogether. Freezing the grapes before fermentation while still attached to the vines is also done to produce a specific type of sweet wine called ice wine. Sweeteners like unfermented grape juice can be added after the fermentation to improve the taste of the wine.
Here are some of the best Sweet Wines for beginners:
--- Riesling
Riesling is a German wine that can be dry or sweet. Be sure to double-check with your waiter or read the label if you want the sweet or semi-sweet variety. Light and citrusy, this white wine often comes sparkling, sweetened with apples, peaches, pears, and apricots.
Pro Tip: If you want your Riesling especially sweet, go for a Late Harvest bottle—these will satisfy any sweet tooth!
--- Moscato d’Asti
Moscato is an excellent sweet wine for beginners as it is a dessert wine. Winemakers flavor this Italian variety with apricots and almonds, as well as peach or other fruity flavors, on occasion. It’s slightly fizzy and undoubtedly the sweetest wine.
--- Demi-Sec Champagne
If you want more than a little fizz, choose a sparkling wine. Demi-Sec Champagne has between 32 and 50 grams of sugar. It is the highest sweetest level next to Champagne Doux, which is any sparkling wine with more than 50 grams of sugar. True champagne comes from its namesake region in France and uses a blend of wine grapes, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
--- Chenin Blanc
From Loire Valley of France, Chenin Blanc isn’t necessarily always sweet. However, it is usually considered a dessert wine. It has a notable acidity and a clear minerality with hints of honey. When it comes to food pairing, this wine matches with rich dishes since the acidity cuts through the fat. You can pair it with spicy cuisines, pork, and duck.
--- Lambrusco
This is a fruity red wine from Emilia-Romagna, made from ten different grape types. It is a slightly sparkling wine with notes of raspberries, blackberries, cherry, and almond. You can pair it, almost all kinds of pork, lamb, and steak. Lambrusco best compliments with hard cheeses like parmesan and pecorino.
--- Schiava
Schiava is a great red wine from Northern Italy. Taking a sip, you will first consider it dry after that, it reveals sweet notes of cotton candy, rose, sweet cherry sauce, and cinnamon. Although it’s not easy to find, once found, it is worth it. To balance its sweet flavors, you can pair it with baked ham and cured meats like prosciutto or salami or cheeses like pecorino.
((Final Choice Depends)):
Don’t undermine these sweet wines, just because it is meant for beginners. There is nothing wrong with them, and they are of high quality. It is just meant to give a new mouth a welcoming reception. Anyone can drink them, even those who have a good wine experience. However, as a beginner, you should not stop here, and you should keep on trying something new every time to gain new wine experience. So, Keep on exploring, the choice is all yours.
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