🍷 Dessert wine

Dessert wine is sweet wine served with dessert or after a meal. It usually has 50–250 grams of sugar per litre or more. The word "dessert" describes a style, not a grape: very different wines from many countries fall under it.

Sweetness is achieved in several ways. Grapes are left on the vine longer, giving a late harvest. Berries are dried or affected by noble rot, as in Tokaj or Sauternes. Grapes are allowed to freeze, as for Eiswein. Sometimes spirit is added to the must, fermentation stops and sugar remains; that is how fortified wines such as port or muscat are made. Dessert wine can be still or fortified.

Dessert wines are connected to sweet wine in general. They belong to a large group of wines. They are served in small portions, in small glasses, often chilled. They go well with blue cheese, fruit and pastries. Like any alcohol, they are best drunk in moderation.