About Sweet Wine

About Sweet Wine
A dessert wine is just that, a wine made strictly to pair with desserts at the end of a meal. Dessert wines are sweet wines; while many are naturally sweet, some are sweetned through the addition of grape must.

Famous dessert wines include Sauternes from France’s Bordeaux region, Rutherglen Muscat from Australia and vendages tardives (“late picked”) from France’s Alsace region. Germany also produces many famous dessert wines, ranging from Spatlese to Eiswein (made from frozen grapes).

Dessert wines from Italy include Vin Santo, Recioto di Soave and Recioto di Valpolicella. While some dessert wines have alcohol in the 12-14% range, others such as Moscato d’Asti from Piedmont in northern Italy are very low in alcohol (5.5%).

Dessert wines can accompany certain specific foods, especially cakes, almond tortes and fruit tarts; however, Sauternes and foie gras is a classic pairing.

While some lighter dessert wines such as Moscato d’Asti or Brachetto d’Acqui are meant for consumption upon release, others such as Sauternes or Auslese from Germany can age for decades, thanks to their high natural sugar concentration.

Top Picks for Sweet Wine

Stone Hill Winery NV  Concord
91 points
$10
Best Buy
This sweet red is spiked grape juice; you just can't hate a tasty juice box.
91 points $10 Best Buy
Quady 2020 Electra White Moscato
90 points
$15
A vibrantly delicious and concentrated dessert wine that will be a fine end to a rich meal.
Quady 2020 Electra Red Moscato
89 points
$15
A berry-laden palate follows a honey-kissed nose in the sweet but sophisticated Moscato sipper.
Boundless Optimism NV Sweet Dessert Wine California
88 points
$40
A pleasing dessert wine with pronounced red fruits and excellent acid structure to balance the sweetness.
Stone Hill Winery NV Raspberry Flavored Wine Missouri
88 points
$14
Best Buy
A fun and interesting fruit candy of a wine to keep away from the kids.
88 points $14 Best Buy
Oliver NV Sweet Red Indiana
88 points
$8
Best Buy
A bold Concord wine with impassioned varietal character; pleasingly sweet and never cloying.
88 points $8 Best Buy
Stone Hill Winery NV  Moscato
87 points
$16
A fun, fruity wine that would make a good white Sangria.
Stone Hill NV Semi-Sweet Steinberg White Wine Hermann
87 points
$9
Best Buy
A delicate sweet wine to serve with a good chill.
87 points $9 Best Buy
Stone Hill NV Camellia Sweet Rosé Hermann
87 points
$12
Best Buy
A tropical and fruity sweet wine for summertime quaffing.
87 points $12 Best Buy
RICCO NV Dolce Italy
87 points
$12
Best Buy
A juicy, fruity, bubbly red that's great for spicy fried chicken or daytime celebrations.
87 points $12 Best Buy