Thursday, July 3, 2008

Some Different Kinds of Dessert Wines

Dessert wines tend to be rich, sweet, and higher in alcohol than conventional wines, and are traditionally served in small, dainty glasses. As the name suggests, dessert wines are usually served with dessert, and there are a number of varieties which have different levels of sweetness, flavor, and texture in the mouth. When selecting dessert wines for pairing, the dessert being served should be taken into account, along with the wine, as the two flavors will interact, sometimes negatively.

The family of sweet and fortified wines which are considered to be dessert wines includes Sauternes, late harvest Riesling, Madeira, Port, Sherry, Spumante, ice wines, and other sparkling, dry wines like some champagnes. As a general rule, the wine selected should be somewhat sweeter than the dessert, as the sweetness will balance out when consumed with the dessert. If the dessert is sweeter than the wine, it has a tendency to make the wine taste bitter and sour: if you are unsure about pairings, ask the staff of a wine store for recommendations or buy several dessert wines to taste with the dessert before serving it.

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