🍷 Wine of overripe grapes
EU category: wine from very overripe grapes, with no added sugar.
Wine of overripe grapes is a separate wine category under European Union rules. It is made from very overripe grapes, and no sugar is added. The natural alcohol content of such a wine is at least 15%. This means all the alcohol comes from the sugar of the grapes themselves.
Why do grapes become overripe? The berries stay on the vine longer than usual. They lose water, and more sugar, colour and aroma remain in them. Such grapes make a dense, rich wine. It can be dry or sweet, depending on how much sugar the yeast had time to process.
The category stands next to late harvest wine. These are similar methods: both rely on late picking. But wine of overripe grapes has a strict requirement for natural strength.
The category is described in the European Union regulation on wine markets. On a label the name of the category is not often seen; more often the name of the wine itself is written. As with any alcohol, it should be drunk in moderation.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Wine of overripe grapes → kind of → 🍷 Late harvest wine ← similar ← 🍷 Sweet wine → kind of → 🍷 Types of wine → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Late harvest wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Late harvest wine
Frequently asked questions
What is wine of overripe grapes?
An EU wine category: made from very overripe grapes, with no added sugar and at least 15% natural alcohol.
How is it different from late harvest?
Both are made from late-picked grapes, but wine of overripe grapes has a strict requirement for natural strength.
Can it be dry?
Yes, it depends on how much sugar the yeast had time to process.
⚠️ 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)
- OIV, International Code of Oenological Practices
- EU Regulation 1308/2013, Annex VII Part II (wine categories)