Everything About Dessert Wines

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

In Bulgaria, the idea of the presence of sugar in wine, other than the natural fructose of the fruit in alcohol, is considered extremely unacceptable. Sugar is associated with headaches, a signal of product fraud. In principle of dessert wines is not taken lightly, they are not bought and dust is collected on the shelves in the store network. We are taught to ignore sweet wines, they are eventually served before dessert and in most cases are missed.

It should be noted that some of the richest in flavor and aroma dessert wines are the most difficult to operate, expensive to manufacture, also with high prices on the market.

As with most things, wine needs a little knowledge and experience so that dessert wines are not overlooked.

There are certain important factors that determine the style of wine, commonly called dessert wines, and these are sugars in the grapes, grape varieties, time of harvest.

The grapes ripen until late autumn to accumulate enough sugars to remain after fermentation. Remaining on the vines, the bunches dehydrate and the sugars, acids and flavors are concentrated.

There are grape varieties that naturally offer a higher sugar content, such as the well-known Muscat. It has over two hundred crosses and branches and is definitely considered the most ancient grape on Earth. Also such are Riesling, from which the so-called Spatlese in Germany and Austria, Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley and others. On the label, these wines are marked with the term Late Harvest - late harvest. They show a dominant ripe fruit character, high acids, which balance the residual sugars in the wine.

There are many types dessert wines, lighter and with a higher alcohol content, but the latter have added alcohol (brandy) and are called fortified dessert wines. There are also heavy dark dessert wines such as Porto, Sherry style Pedro Jimenez and others. It is also important in what containers the wines, oak barrels, or in large metal stainless steel will ferment, whether it will be for a shorter period or they will mature for years.

Dessert wines are available in small tall glasses, chilled when they have a higher alcohol content, to a normal wine glass when they are at room temperature, the latter being lighter and drier wines.

The climatic features of the region also play an important role. In warmer climates, it is possible to concentrate sugars and taste in the grapes, and this is achieved by drying, which takes place on straw mats or on the vines. In this way the raisins are made, but with different degrees of drying, also different varieties. In our country the word raisin is accepted due to our proximity to Greece, but to the west of us this method is called the mat - Slamovoe Vino - Slovakia, Vin de Paille - France, Vino de Pasas - Spain, VinSanto - Italy. They are characterized by rich dried fruits, honey notes.

It is interesting to know about the colder climates, where conditions are created for the grapes to stay until late autumn and freeze on the vine. The water in it crystallizes and during processing remains in the press during the extraction of the juice, which is small in quantity, thick and sweet. This is how a wine called Icewine was created. There are many factors to make good ice wine, so it is expensive and rarely available, especially in small bottles of 375 ml. Such wines are distinguished by exceptionally emphasized varieties, fresh aromas and flavors.

Also exceptional wines are the so-called. botrytized wines. They require unique specific latitudes and climatic conditions. There is a development of a special fungus called Botrytis cinerea, hence their name. In these wines, the production is complex and not always successful. Such wines are Sauternes, Tokay. They are characterized by aroma and flavors of dried fruits, caramelized apple, honey and a trace of Botrytis cinerea - saffron aroma.

Sweet and dessert wines should not be neglected, they focus on quality, saturation, aromas, and not on the quantity in the bottle.