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 Dessert wines - or pudding wines - are a delicious way to end a meal. Despite the name, they are often best appreciated alone but can be paired with fruit, cheese or bakery sweets - and, of course, chocolate. There is no simple definition of a dessert wine. In the United States, a dessert wine is legally defined as any wine over 14% alcohol by volume, which includes all fortified wines - and is taxed more highly as a result.
There are many variations of dessert wines to choose from - Port, Sherry, Sauternes, Tokay, Ice Wine - in different price ranges. Made in a variety of ways, dessert wines vary in levels of sweetness, intensity, alcohol and color. Port and Sherry are both fortified wines, while Sauternes, Tokay and ice wines are all made with grapes affected by botrytis, a noble rot that intensifies the flavors of the grape.
A general rule is that the wine should be sweeter than the dessert it accompanies. These wines contain flavors like peach, almond, oak and herbs, which allow them to show off their flavor, and add a tang to even the lightest dessert. A perfectly ripe peach has been described as the ideal partner for many dessert wine. Quite often the wine itself can be a dessert, but bakery sweets can make a good match, particularly with a little bitterness like almond biscuits that are dunked in Vin Santo. A development of this matching of contrasts is a rich savory dish like the foie gras that is a traditional partner to Sauternes. White dessert wines are generally served somewhat chilled, but can be easily served too cold (unless you're pouring your Pedro Ximénez over your ice cream of course!). Red dessert wine are served at room temperature or slightly chilled.
The cellaring potential from wine to wine can vary enormously but sweet wines are generally ideal for medium to long term cellaring, as long as they are stored in the correct conditions. This is in part due to acidity, but mainly because the residual sugar content of sweet wine keeps it fresh for many years and it is not unusual for some sweet wines to last for many decades. As sweet wines age, they tend to take on a golden hue with more concentrated flavors, however many sweet wines are also delicious when young.
So at your next dinner or holiday party, make sure your guests save room for dessert - wine, that is. |
