Sweet white wines – AKA dessert wines – are some of the most lauded and luxurious in the world.
As the name suggests, they’re characterised by sweet flavours that are present thanks to residual natural sugars in the grape juice that don’t fully develop into alcohol during a shorter fermentation process.
Winemakers also use a couple of clever techniques to boost the concentration of sugar futher, from noble rot to late harvesting and cold temperatures, all of which define the dessert wines we’ve come to know and love.
A spokesperson at Majestic, breaks down the world of dessert wine: “If you want the perfect way to end a delicious meal, or a sweet treat to sip in the evenings, dessert wines are where to look. Different styles of sweet white wines are crafted worldwide – from France and Hungary to New Zealand and California – using a variety of intriguing techniques.
As for food-matching, dry wines can taste too acidic when paired with sweet dishes, so it’s important to have something that properly complements the sugar in your food. Dessert wines have high levels of sugar themselves – and that’s what makes them such great choices. And it’s not just sweet dishes they pair with; sweet white wines create a delicious contrast to salty cheeses.”
They add: “Noble Rot may sound like an unusual term to associate with dessert wines – but it’s the secret behind the world’s best. If the conditions are just right, noble rot, or Botrytis Cinerea, creates tiny holes in a grape’s skin, allowing water to evaporate, which concentrates the sugars, flavours and acids.
Alternatively, late-harvest dessert wines are made with grapes that have been left on the vine until late in the harvest season, resulting in higher sugar levels and riper flavours. Sauternes is arguably the most famous of the dessert wines, though.
Typically, it’s made predominantly with Semillion grapes, which are very susceptible to noble rot. Hungary’s iconic sweet wine, Tokaji, is made by fermenting Botrytis-influenced, or Aszú, grapes in a base wine made from standard grapes.
Finally, Muscat grapes are used throughout the world to make sweet white wines, where the fermentation process is stopped early – while there’s still plenty of sugar left.”
Here, we’ve rounded-up the best bottles to buy and buy right now, sure to satisfy even the sweetest tooth.
Domaine de Lasserre Jurancon
Not quite as rich as Sauternes but sharing some of its irresistible honey and candied fruit notes, Domaine de Lassere Jurancon is great as an alternative aperitif or as a more traditional digestif with apple crumble. It’s positively bursting with orange blossom flavours.
Buy now £7.25, Co-Op
Chateau du Seuil Cerons 2021
A luscious dessert wine, Chateau du Seuil Cerons is brimming with apricot sweetness beautifully balanced with crisp lemon acidity. It’s made on the banks of the Garonne in the Graves region of France by a husband-and-wife team from Wales. Seriously good stuff.
Buy now £16.99, Virgin Wines
Adnams Dessert Wine
This tiny but mighty bottle from Adnams combines honeyed sweetness with wonderful freshness to offer a rich and fruity dessert wine. Stonking with stinky blue cheeses.
Buy now £11.49, Adnams
Denbies Wine Estate Noble Harvest 2022
Hailing from Denbies – the winery in Surrey – the straw-yellow Noble Harvest offers an explosion of candied fruits on the palate with a silky-smooth texture and a well-balanced, long-lasting finish. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle, we don’t know what will.
Buy now £45.00, Denbies Wine Estate
Fuleky Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos 2013
The grapes in this bottle are grown in the famed Tokaj region of northeastern Hungary and southeastern Slovenia and boasts flavours of dried apricot and lemon curd offset with hints of honey and pineapple. Floral and sweet but balanced.
Buy now £59.00, Amathus Drinks
Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Bright golden in colour with vibrant flavours of honey, apricot and citrus, Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc is a soft and velvety sip that wraps up any meal beautifully.
Buy now £10.80, Amazon
The Ned Noble Sauvignon Blanc
Everyone’s favourite Sauvignon Blanc label is now serving up a sweet take on its famously fruity grape complete with citrussy aromas and flavours of stone fruit and orange and grapefruit marmalade. Serve lightly chilled with a warm dessert or by itself as an unusual aperitif – its colour makes it the epitome of golden hour.
Buy now £14.00, Ocado
Alpha Estate ‘Omega’ Late Harvest Gewurztraminer Malagousia
Made from grapes that are allowed to shrivel on the wine – this is a good thing, trust us – this sweet white wine features aromas of rose petal and lychee with flavours of apricot and pear. Delish.
Buy now £31.00, Vivino
Vergelegen Reserve Straw Wine 2021
Luscious, rich and tropical, this half-bottle from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa is made from the Semillon grape and serves up ripe, tropical fruit on the nose and balanced acidity and freshness on the palate. Down the hatch.
Buy now £14.50, Amazon
De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon
Winemkaers De Bortoli are known for producing some of the best sweet wines in Australia, and their Semillon is no exception. Its namesake grape packs apricot, candied lemon, vanilla and barley sugar flavours that go particularly well with festive puddings. A cracking bottle at a cracking price.
Buy now £8.00, Asda
The King’s Sticky End Noble Sauvignon Blanc
Sweet, richly fruity and golden, The King’s Sticky End Noble Sauvignon Blanc – don’t you just love the name? – is all juicy nectarine and peach flavours with spicy citrus zest. Lipsmackingly good.
Buy now £17.50, Ocado
Vina Araya Moscatel de Valencia
Pale-golden in colour. Sweet and aromatic in flavour. Hints of grapefruit and peach. What’s not to love about Vina Araya Moscatel de Valencia? Not a lot, as it turns out.
Buy now £6.60, Sainsbury's
Halfpenny Green Wine Estate Late Harvest 2022
This dessert wine from award-winning Halfpenny Green Wine Estate in Staffordshire is characterised by tropical notes of lemon, pineapple and melon that make it the perfect match for cheese or simply by itself as a digestif. In a word: glorious.
Buy now £15.00, Threshers
2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd Sauternes by Chateau Suduiraut Bordeaux
This Sauternes from Berry Bros. & Rudd is simply heavenly, as you’d expect from the esteemed London wine merchants. Like nectar, it’s bursting with luscious flavours of apricot, honey, orange blossom and candied fruits, while citrus acidity balances everything out. Deserving of your best glassware.
Buy now £19.25, Berry Bros. & Rudd
L’Ouest de Lamothe Guignard Sauternes 2010
As the most famous dessert wine style of France, this Sauternes doesn’t disappoint with delicious flavours of apricot, tropical fruit, marmalade and honey, made using the traditional noble-rot method with grapes left to shrivel on the vine for irresistible sweetness. Works a treat.
Buy now £14.99, Majestic
Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois
Sweet but not cloying, this fortified number exudes invigorating aromas of mango and lychee with lemony freshness on the palate and a grand finale of luscious fig.
Buy now £7.99, Waitrose
