A dessert wine is a wine that is high on sugar content when compared to other wines. The percentage of residual sugar in a dessert wine ranges from 3 to 28 and if we take dry wine it has just one percent of residual sugar content.
Types of dessert wines
Late harvest wines: these are wines that are produced from the fruit that has over ripened and their sugar level goes higher than their juice level. These fruits are left in the vines for long so that they get over ripe and sometimes even a rot called Botrytis can set on the grapes which adds extra flavor to the grapes. When these grapes are fermented the sugar content being higher, yeast is not able to convert all the sugar and hence there is some sugar left called a residual sugar. These wines are generally very rich so people prefer to sell it as a half bottle. These wines are comparatively costlier than other wines. They pair best with cheesecakes.
Ports: next important dessert wines are ports. It is a very popular wine, but sometimes confused with late harvest wines. However, this is not true in fact a port is very much fortified as compared to late harvest wine. Ports are low on alcohol content and are sweet in taste. It has some added spirit like brandy to make it fortified. However, if we compare it with late harvest wine its alcohol content is higher. There are mainly two types of ports, Ruby and Tawny. Port can be enjoyed with a warm chocolate torte.
Ice wines: ice wines are also produced from the fruits that are left on the vine to get ripe and raisin. However, the difference is that they are left until frost comes and cover these grapes. That is when these grapes are picked up. Now you know why this wine is called iced wine. These grapes are instantly taken to the winery and crushed so its effect doesn’t die. Ice wines are very costly because it takes a lot of grapes to produce them, but they are fun to have. Sometimes they are even referred as liquid gold because of its cost and color. They go best with homemade vanilla ice cream.
Madeira: it is a very popular dessert wine that is made on the island of Madeira in Portugal. These wines are kept in constant temperature for several months in a special building called a estufas. Earlier this wine was unfortified, but now some spirit is added so that it can last for a long time on long voyages. These wines taste their best when aged for around 50 to 100 years.
[...] are wide variety of dessert wines like late harvest wine, ports, ice wine, sherry and Madeira. These wines can go with many different [...]