Dessert wine

Dessert wine is a type of wine that is typically sweet and often served with dessert. It is a broad category that includes several different types of wines, including fortified wines, late harvest wines, and ice wines.

History

The history of dessert wine dates back to ancient times. The Greeks and Romans were known to produce sweet wines, often by drying grapes in the sun or by boiling the must. In the Middle Ages, sweet wines were highly prized and often used for medicinal purposes.

Production

Dessert wines are produced in a variety of ways. Some are made by allowing the grapes to become overripe, which increases their sugar content. Others are made by stopping the fermentation process before all the sugar has been converted into alcohol. Still others are made by adding alcohol to the wine, which kills the yeast and leaves residual sugar in the wine.

Types

There are many different types of dessert wine, including:

• Port: A fortified wine from Portugal that is typically rich and sweet.
• Sherry: A fortified wine from Spain that can range from dry to very sweet.
• Madeira: A fortified wine from the Madeira Islands that is often sweet and has a distinctive caramel flavor.
• Sauternes: A sweet wine from the Bordeaux region of France that is made from grapes affected by noble rot.
• Tokaji: A sweet wine from Hungary that is made from grapes affected by noble rot.
• Ice wine: A sweet wine made from grapes that have been frozen on the vine.

Serving

Dessert wines are typically served in small glasses and at a temperature of around 55°F (13°C). They are often paired with desserts that match their sweetness level, but can also be enjoyed on their own.

See also

• Wine
• Fortified wine
• Late harvest wine
• Ice wine