🍷 Moelleux
A French word for soft, medium-sweet or sweet white wine.
Moelleux is a French word for a soft white wine with noticeable sweetness. Literally it means mellow or velvety. On labels it usually marks wines that are sweeter than off-dry but not as rich as liquoreux dessert wines.
Under EU rules, moelleux is the French term for medium-sweet wine, with 12 to 45 grams of sugar per litre. In everyday talk the word is also used for sweeter wines. The sugar comes from ripe, sometimes late-picked grapes, which may be touched by noble rot.
It should not be confused with liquoreux wines, which are sweeter and thicker. Most moelleux wines come from the Loire Valley and are made from Chenin Blanc. The best-known example is Vouvray, where one grape gives dry, medium-sweet and sweet wines. High acidity helps these wines age well, and over the years they develop notes of honey and quince.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Medium-sweet wine
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ French wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Medium-sweet wine, 📜 Vouvray
Frequently asked questions
What does moelleux mean on a label?
A soft, medium-sweet to sweet wine. Under EU rules it means 12 to 45 g/l of sugar.
Where are moelleux wines made?
Mostly in the Loire Valley, for example Vouvray, from Chenin Blanc. They also appear in other parts of France.
How is moelleux different from liquoreux?
Moelleux is softer and lighter. Liquoreux wines are much sweeter, with more than 45 g/l of sugar.
Similar
🍷 Lieblich · 🍷 Amabile · 🍷 Grower Champagne · 🍷 Château-Chalon · 🍷 Saignée rosé · 🍷 Blended rosé
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- Wikipedia (en)
- EU Delegated Regulation 2019/33 (labelling, sugar terms)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Wine