There are many many different styles of sweet wine out there, and we understand that the variety can be overwhelming! We have put together a helpful Christmas guide to sweet wines to help you navigate through the different styles and find the right one for you!
The Noble One
Noble rot, aka Botrytis Cinerea, is a remarkable, natural phenomenon without which many of the world’s greatest sweet wines could not be produced. It is a fungus which only occurs in certain conditions and perforates the skins of healthy grapes allowing the moisture to evaporate, therefore dehydrating the grape and concentrating the sugars, acidity and flavour. The result is an unctuous and complex sweet wine, capable of long ageing.
Chateau Petit Vedrines, Sauternes, France 2016 (37.5cl)
The superb second wine from Chateau Doisy Vedrines. Enticing aromas of lemon curd, peach honey and orange marmalade fill the glass. The luscious and generous mouthfeel is complimented by bright, vibrant acidity and a concentrated core of citrus and white stone fruit as well as a delicate touch of ginger spice. A perfect match for a classic apple Tarte Tatin and goes equally well with blue cheese.
The Fortified One
Produced by adding a high strength grape spirit to fermenting wine, which kills the yeast and leaves a deliciously sweet, sticky wine. This method is called fortification, and raises the alcohol content to 15-20% abv, whilst retaining the sweetness in the wine.
Taylor’s Quinta Terra Feita Port, Portugal 2005
Quinta de Terra Feita is located on the west bank of the River Pinhão, and in certain years (such as 2005), when a Taylor’s Vintage is not declared, the best port wines of Terra Feita have traditionally been bottled as a ‘single Quinta’ vintage port. Classic black fruit aromas of cherry and cassis provide a dense and impenetrable backdrop for wild scents of mint, resin and gumcistus. On the palate the same intense black fruit character merges with rich dark flavours of black plum, liquorice and chocolate.
The Late Harvest One
A late harvest wine’s sweetness is achieved by allowing the grapes extended ripening time on the vine. The longer a grape remains on the vine, the sweeter they become as each individual grape dehydrates and the sugar content becomes more concentrated.
Quinta Da Alorna, Branco Colheita Tardia, Portugal 2017 (37.5cl)
Quinta da Alorna has a long and illustrious history stretching back to the 18th century, where its impressive estate sits majestically amongst an array of vineyards covering 220-hectares in the heart of the Tejo region, all of which are worked in a sustainable and socially responsible way. Aromas of ripe tropical fruits with notes of flowers, honey and almond giving complexity. Deliciously sweet and intense with a good balance of the natural acidity that makes the finish long and pleasant. Rich enough for chicken liver pate, sublime with key lime pie or passionfruit!
The Dried One
Almost every winemaking country in the world has their own version of sweet wine made from dried grapes, with a similar idea behind the process; dehydrating the grapes in order to concentrate everything else, including sugars. Removing the moisture will result in raisined grapes that taste intensely sweet.
Cantina di Negrar Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, Veneto, Italy 2019 (50cl)
Complex and beguiling aromas of creme de cassis, prune, black cherry and black plum with a deft floral lift. Intense and full bodied on the palate yet balanced by uplifting acidity and generous, though not cloying sweetness... bright and vibrant with further dark black fruit and a touch of raisin on the persistent finish. Accompanies cheeses and chocolate cakes splendidly!
The Frozen One
Authentic Ice wine or Eiswein is extremely tricky and expensive to create. Gapes are frozen while still on the vine - freezing the water in the grapes but not the sugars, allowing tiny quantities of highly sweetened grape juice to be extracted. The resulting wine is typically sweet, with a burst of dense, rich flavour and a clean line of fresh acidity.
Dr Loosen Riesling Eiswein, NV (20cl)
Pure with mega concentration. Vibrant and densely packed with pear, apple and guava. Luscious and silky with a bright, crisp, dynamic finish. Pair with a lemon tart or cheesecake.
The One Made From apples
Yes, you did read that correctly, a sweet wine made from apples – ice cider. The ripe apples are harvested in the autumn, and then pressed to remove the juice. This juice is then left outside to gradually freeze over winter, where is acquires a very high concentration of sugar. The concentrated juice is then separated from the water and left to ferment for around 6 months. This method produces a higher alcohol content than traditional cider. During the process the cider apple juice becomes intensified, sweeter and richer with a powerful warmth and rich complexity.
Brannland Claim Ice Cider, Uppsala, Sweden 2018 (37.5cl)
An ice wine made from 100% Swedish apples, concentrated and elevated using the natural winter cold of northern Sweden. This cider is fresh with red apple peel, apple core and bitter almond flavours. Pairs perfectly with cheese, or apple and berry-based desserts.
