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Sweet White Wine: The perfect companion for desserts

have you tried a Sweet White Wine? Many are lovers of sweet white wine because it is easier to drink and therefore captures the attention of many people who begin their journey through the world of wine.

The sweet white wine is a broth that presents fruity characteristics that give it the perfect touch that attracts so many palates in the world and that every day becomes more famous.

what is Sweet White Wine?

The sweet wine is one in which the amount of residual sugar is greater than 45 grams of sugar per liter, this is obtained through the fermentation process, since it is interrupted or to be fortified and not all the sugar is converted into alcohol.

Origin and History of Sweet White Wine

The origin of white wine seems to come according to archaeological studies from the Middle East, and then it was taken to Mesopotamia where it was exported. Some studies also indicate that in Greece it was used as a medical prescription.

A story that stands the test of time

This is how it spread during the Middle Ages until the Modern Age, where political and historical situations affected the course of wine exports, but not in a negative way, as it spread to other lands.

During the Modern Age, white wine experienced its golden age, since it achieved its expansion despite the situations that led it to be compromised in its production due to the Phylloxera plague that devastated huge crops.

Winemakers managed to recover from the different situations experienced throughout history and discovered that during the usual winemaking process they could change the style of white wine, making it sweeter, which pleased certain palates.

Characteristics of Sweet White Wine

Sweet white wine is characterized for being a quite fresh and pleasant wine that usually envelops the palate.

  • It has fruity aromas with citrus notes
  • It is a fresh wine
  • It has balanced acidity
  • Can be drunk as a dessert

Color, flavor and aroma of Sweet White Wine

Sweet white wine is a very pleasant wine both in its visual and tasting phases.

  • Appearance: Pale to golden yellow color with clean and bright greenish glints
  • Nose: Complex aromas of citrus fruits stand out with spicy notes that give it freshness
  • Palate: It is tasty and dense, with hints of fruit, with good sweetness and balanced acidity that give it a pleasant and persistent finish

Alcohol Content of Sweet White Wine

The sweet white wine, due to the variety of grapevines with which it is made, can be found with 7% or 13% alcohol content, which makes it a pleasant wine.

Types of Sweet White Wines

We can distinguish two types of sweet white wine due to its elaboration method and its nature.

Natural Sweet Wine

This wine is sweetened, i.e. a sweet wine is added to a dry wine, or grape must is added to improve its sugar content. Within this group we can find, for example, wines such as vino generoso and mistela.

Naturally Sweet Wine

These are wines that have achieved their sweetness in a natural way, because the sugar concentration is so high that the yeasts cannot survive their own alcohol production.

Here we can find wines such as ice wines, late harvest wines or Pedro Ximénez among others.

Sweet White Wine Pairing

Sweet white wine is an ideal wine to accompany desserts, so you can surprise everyone thanks to its delicate flavor.

A perfect accompaniment to enjoy chocolate
  • Fish: Delicious combination that balances the flavors
  • White meats: Especially with ducks and quail, its flavor blends in an aromatic way creating a sweet sensation
  • Foi Grass: Delicious combination full of flavor
  • Cheeses: Especially with cured cheeses, as it balances and harmonizes the flavors
  • Chocolate: Perfect combination that will delight the palate
  • Desserts: Any dessert in general will be well accompanied by a glass of sweet white wine

how is sweet white wine made?

The sweet white wine is made with white grape varieties that provide aromatic and flavor qualities to this delicate broth, strains such as Muscatel of Alexandria, Semillon, Riesling, Pedro Ximenez, Furmint, Sauvignon Blanc, are some of the most used in its production.

The usual fermentation process with which white wine is made is interrupted to prevent the sugar from being transformed into alcohol and to obtain a sweeter wine, then maceration is used under controlled temperature before being taken to oak barrels where it will begin its aging process, which will depend on the winery where it is made.

Characteristics of the grapes used to make Sweet White Wine

The vines used to make sweet white wine are vines that provide unique flavor and aroma characteristics that make them attractive and a favorite of certain palates that seek less dry and astringent sensations.

Grape varieties that give rise to high quality sweet white wines

Muscat of Alexandria grape

It is a variety used in the production of sweet wines thanks to its aromatic and flavor power.

  • Large and not very uniform bunches
  • Large berries with soft pulp
  • Low vigorous vines
  • Drought resistant and adaptable to different types of soils
  • Produces good wines in chalky soils and excellent in siliceous soils

Semillon grape

This variety is the base of most sweet white wines, its herbaceous and fruity flavor makes it a delight to the palate.

  • Large cluster size
  • Berries with very bright green skin color
  • Vines of good vigor
  • Adapted to all types of soils, differing in the aromas, which are milder in sicyllic soils and more intense in calcareous soils
  • Sensitive to grey rot, which, when enhanced or inoculated on ripening clusters, gives excellent sweet and liqueur-like sauternes

Riesling Grape

A variety used for the production of sweet white wines that stand out for their aromatic power.

  • Very small cluster size
  • Small sized berries with pale green skin
  • Medium to high vigorous vines
  • It is not very sensitive to cold weather in spring as its budding is mid to late season
  • It is one of the few varieties that exhibits a characteristic primary aroma with which high quality white wines are produced, very aromatic, structured and elegant with low acidity.

Pedro Ximénez grape

A grape variety used to make very alcoholic wines, since its musts are very sugary and with low acidity.

  • Very large bunch size
  • Medium sized berries with yellowish green skin
  • Very vigorous vines
  • Not very sensitive to wood fungi
  • Relatively resistant to cold and wind

Furmint grape

A grape variety originating in Hungary that produces a wide variety of wines, especially high quality sweet wines.

  • Medium sized cluster
  • Medium sized berries
  • Very drought resistant
  • Low tolerance to pests and diseases such as mildew or botrytis

Temperature of Sweet White Wine

Sweet white wine is a wine that is recommended to be served at a temperature between 5°C and 7°C, it can also be tasted at a temperature between 7°C and 10°C depending on the grape variety with which it is made. This temperature will allow the wine to show itself openly to us.

Price and best brands of Sweet White Wine

The sweet white wine is a pleasant broth, ideal to share during a special day with family or close friends, its freshness and sweetness will catch your senses, it can be found in the market at a price ranging from 8 € to 400 €.

Grand Libalis 2015

A pale yellow sweet white wine with golden notes, clean and bright, it presents high aromatic intensity with dominance of fresh syrupy fruits such as lychee, pineapple, mango or papaya, which make it enveloping, with fresh and pleasant finish, great unctuousness, elegance and length in its passage through the mouth €8.50.

Noctiluca 2016

A straw yellow colored wine with golden iridescence, full of intense and fragrant aroma where fresh grape notes prevail with white flowers and citrus touches, which give it good acidity, freshness, long finish with great persistence 18,90 €.

Kestener Paulinsberg Spatlese Riesling Goldkapsel Swett 2015

A sweet white wine with concentrated aromas but giving it freshness and minerality, yet giving it intensity on the palate with brilliantly integrated acidity €50,50.

Tokaji Oremus Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2005

A sweet, golden-colored white wine that stands out thanks to its great aromatic potential with fragrances of honey, exotic fruits, lime, acacia, apricot and quince that make it truly exciting 69,90 €.

Chateau D’Yquem 2016

An exquisite sweet white wine of beautiful yellow color with golden glints, full of fruity aromas that make it a soft, fresh and persistent delight in the mouth €399.90.

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