Four Types Of Wine To Try When Your Sweet Tooth Is Acting Up
Even if you're not typically the kind of person who reaches for sweets, there may be the rare occasion when your sweet tooth starts acting up. When this occurs, reach for one of these varieties of wine, all of which are known for their sweet flavor and unique nuances.
Sauternes
Sauternes is a French wine that is named after the region where it is made. The process of making Sauternes wine is very unique. The grapes are left on the vine long after they become ripe. By the time they are harvested, they are partially shrived like raisins, which gives the wine pressed from them a very sweet flavor.
Sauternes is usually enjoyed as a dessert wine. You can sip a small glass of it alongside a mild cheese like Havarti or Monterrey Jack. With its rich, yellow color, it makes a lovely presentation, too.
Moscato
Moscato is a very light-bodied white wine that hails from Italy, though some California wine makers have begun making their own version as well. It features light flavors of peach and orange, making it a good match for fruit bowls and pies. Since moscato is so smooth and pleasant, it is perfect for sipping in larger glasses when you're lounging by the pool.
Sweet Reisling
Reisling is made from Reisling grapes. You can find plenty of Reislings from California and from the Fingerlakes region of New York State. All Reislings are on the sweeter side, but if your sweet tooth is really acting up, you'll want to find one marketed as a sweet Reisling rather than as a dry Reisling. (Though even a dry Reisling is, in the grand scheme of things, sweeter than many wines.)
Reisling has a very crisp, apple-like quality. You can enjoy it with nutty desserts like pecan pie and praline sundaes.
Vouvray
Produced in the Loire Valley of France, this wine is very sweet, but with a bold, full-bodied flavor. It is aged in steel tanks, so it lacks the oakiness you'll find in so many other French wines. Vouvray has a golden color, and it pairs really well with soft cheese such as Camembert. Some people even serve it with dinner dishes, like chicken and duck, which can offset it sweetness and make for a balanced meal.
Sweet wines are not all created equal, so feel free to experiment with a few of the varieties listed above to discover the one you like best.
