🍷 Late harvest wine

Late harvest wine is made from grapes left on the vine longer than usual. The berries gather more sugar, so the wine is sweeter or stronger. It is made in many countries.

Sometimes berries dry on the vine, sometimes noble rot develops on them, and in some places they are picked frozen, giving ice wine. Sweetness and aroma depend on the year: the warmer and drier the autumn, the richer the wine. Late harvest is risky, since rain, birds and disease can spoil the crop.

Late harvest wines have different names. In Germany and Austria it is Spätlese, in France vendange tardive, in some places passerillage. In Tokaj there is Tokaji late harvest. Romania has its own category for such wines. Late harvest belongs to sweet and dessert wines, but can also be dry. It is served with desserts and cheese.