Dessert Wines

If you like VERY sweet wines, you are looking for a “dessert wine”. Anything labeled"late harvest" is going to be sweet. These wines were made from grapes that were allowed to hang on the vine longer than usual. Sugars build up and concentrate within the grapes, making ’late harvest" wines naturally sweet. Muscat or a late harvest Riesling (Trockenbeerenauslese) are two sweet wines to try.

The world’s most famous late harvest dessert wines (as well as some of the world’s most expensive wines ?berhaupt) are French Sauternes. The undisputed king of Sauternes is Chateau d’Yquem with prices beginning at $180-$400 a bottle. Serve with fruit or, better yet, foie gras to balance the honey rich sweetness of the wine.

Harder to find dessert wines include Hungarian Tokai (or Tokaji) wines where the sweetness level of the wine is indicated by the Puttonyos level (1-6 with 6 being the sweetest) on the label. If you can find these wines, they are a treat.
Or try a port. Port is a “fortified” red wine which means that alcohol has been added to the red wine, making it is higher in alcohol than table wines. Ports can be great with or as dessert. Many good Ports are available, with prices varying widely. Ficklin Port is a brand to try. It has nice sweetness, great ripe fruit flavors and is a wonderful after dinner beverage with or without some walnuts and/or a piece of cheese.
It’s all about what you enjoy, and you don’t know ‘til you try.