The best sweet wine
Our selection of the best sweet wines
Sweet wines are a good option to accompany desserts, coffees and even appetizers. These are dark-colored broths with natural aromas, reminiscent of raisins or vanilla and that will delight those with a sweet tooth. Below, you will find a selection of the best sweet wines, so you can choose the one you like best.
1. Nectar PX Sweet Wine DO Jerez
Néctar is the fruit of the González Byass winery, which is considered by many fans of Sherry as the best brand of sweet wines in Spain. It has been made with Pedro Ximénez grapes grown in the area called “Marco de Jerez”, with stable and mild temperatures throughout the year, which produces a thick grape with a lot of sugar, which is “soled” to evaporate the water.
Its tasting properties are very marked, with an intense ebony color with bright amber iridescence, with wide and oily tears, which produces a velvety visual sensation. On the nose it is very aromatic, with notes of nuts, raisins, figs and dates, but it takes on aromas of coffee and chocolate if it is left to age in the bottle. On the palate it is unctuous, slightly acidic and with an alcoholic finish.
It is a sweet wine suitable for pairing with desserts, but also with cured or intensely flavored blue cheeses.
2. Pinord Moscatel Sweet Dessert Wine
Moscatel grapes were already used by the Romans for the production of white and sweet wines. This variety is considered the best for this type of wine, since it usually has a high concentration of water and sugar. This could be the best Pinord sweet wine, thanks to its aging process that gives it unique qualities.
In the glass it has a deep yellow color, similar to that of olive oil, with golden and greenish sparkles. It is silky, with thick tears and intense aromas in which the varietal, from the Moscatel grape, stands out, with floral and honey perfumes. On the palate it is unctuous, but without being heavy, with fruity flavors and a balanced, very harmonious finish.
It is a wine to pair with desserts, especially with acid fruits such as citrus. It also pairs with red and sweet fruits, as well as nuts and pastries.
3. Cruz Conde Sweet Orange Wine
This could be one of the best sweet wines of 2022 for those who love the flavor and citrus aromas of orange. It is a monovarietal broth, made from sunny Pedro Ximénez grapes, which has been flavored with orange. It combines the sweet flavor of “sunny” grapes with the acidity of oranges, creating a very pleasant and unique sensation.
Thanks to its aging in American oak barrels, it has a very intense, velvety dark color with brown reflections. In the glass it is very fragrant, thanks to the orange that offers a clean and bright aroma. On the palate it is sweet, unctuous, but with an alcoholic and slightly acid finish, so it is not cloying.
Despite being one of the cheap wines on the list, it is a different broth, designed to pair with sweet desserts or to serve very cold and enjoy on its own.
4. Ochoa Moscatel Wine
If you are wondering which is the best sweet wine made with Moscatel grapes, this could be the most suitable. It is the fruit of the “Ochoa Moscatel” vines, typical of the winery, which are left to dry on the vine until they begin to turn into raisins. These small-grain grapes have their own characteristics, which is why they produce sweet wines of high quality, intense and opalescent in color.
In the glass it is light yellow, almost white, with greenish and silver reflections. It is a very aromatic sweet wine, in which the aroma of the Moscatel grape stands out, between earthy and fruity. On the palate it is very tasty and intense, where the flavor of the variety prevails, fruity and herbal, with sweet notes typical of the raisin, together with a slightly alcoholic finish, which subtracts sweetness and balances them.
It is a very good sweet wine to drink neat, in a glass with ice or very cold, but also to pair with desserts or strong-flavored cheeses, such as blue cheese.
5. Pinord Porto Dos Santos Sweet Liqueur Wine
Dos Santos is a Port-type wine, created by the Pinord winery with a base of Moscatel grapes. It is made following traditional methods, adding brandy to the must, which “cuts” the alcoholic fermentation and, at the same time, “liquefies” the broth. After this process, the wine passes through oak barrels for fifteen or twenty years, obtaining a unique flavor and characteristics, such as its brick or “Tawny” color.
In the glass it is a dark wine with reddish brown reflections, intense and somewhat thick, with thick tears. Despite being one of the cheapest options, it has a very wide tasting potential, with varietal and liquor aromas that are reminiscent of Port wine and have been refined by aging. Finally, it has the typical flavor of this type of broth, sweet and long.
It is one of the best options for those looking for a sweet wine to buy to serve with dessert. It pairs very well with chocolates, sweet fruits, nuts and all kinds of pastries.
6. Don Luciano Gold Moscato Charmat White Moscato
Don Luciano Gold Moscato is obtained using the traditional “charmat” method, with Moscatel-type grapes from Spanish vineyards. In this sense, only the highest quality must is partially fermented in isobarometric tanks, thus preserving the carbon dioxide typical of alcoholic fermentation.
It is a very attractive “frizzante” type wine, pale yellow in color, bright and with very clean reflections. In the glass it has very attractive organoleptic properties, with intense aromas of white flowers, peach and apricot. On the palate it has a fine and well-integrated bubble, with honeyed flavors and a broad and pleasant finish.
It is a soft wine, with 7% alcohol, designed to pair with light dishes, pizzas, appetizers and all kinds of desserts.
7. Lustau Sweet Wine Pedro Ximénez San Emilio Jerez
This range of wines originates from the soleras of Emilio Lustau, where the Sherry is left to age in barrels to obtain its unique properties. This could be the best sweet wine of the moment, since it is made entirely from Palomino Gruesa grapes, raisined to increase their sugar concentration and aged for 12 years, giving it a very sweet profile, but at the same time very elegant.
In the glass it has a deep color, dark mahogany, full of iodized sparkles, with thick tears. On the nose it has aromas of raisins, figs and dates, while on the palate it is smooth, very sweet and velvety, with a balanced finish thanks to the alcoholic touches typical of its preparation.
It is a sweet wine designed to accompany cheeses with an intense flavor, such as blue ones, but also to accompany sweet desserts, such as vanilla or chocolate ice cream. It can also be served cold or with ice, to drink alone with coffee.
8. Quina Santa Catalina Sweet Wine
Quinoa is a type of sweet wine that has traditionally been taken as a method to “whet the appetite”, but also as a reinforcement in periods of low defenses or anemia. It is obtained from Malvasía grapes, manually selected and harvested at their optimum ripening moment. It is improved by “coupage” of dry wines, adjusting their flavors and Quina Calisaya tree bark is added.
The Santa Catalina quinine could be the best value for money sweet wine, thanks to its properties. In the glass it is dark mahogany in color, with aromas of syrup and must, as well as sweet notes of apple compote and plum. On the palate it balances sweet and acid flavors very well, with a fresh and clean aftertaste, reminiscent of nuts and caramel.
Quinoa can be eaten as a dessert, but also as an appetizer to “whet your appetite”. It also pairs very well with desserts and sweet dishes, as well as with coffee.
9. Gramona Sweet Wine
Gramona is a monovarietal sweet wine, made with the best Riesling grapes from the 2017 harvest, with the Penedés Denomination of Origin. To obtain all its characteristics, the grapes are picked late and partially frozen, at the same time, the fermentation is longer, so the resulting wine is sweeter and with more personality.
It is a very pale straw yellow wine, with clean and golden reflections. On the nose it has aromas typical of the variety, with notes of exotic fruits such as pineapple or melon, with fresh and floral touches reminiscent of honey. On the palate it is silky, sweet, unctuous and very refreshing, with a final acidity that balances the whole.
It is a good wine to pair with desserts, all kinds of cakes, appetizers, and soft or creamy cheeses.
10. La Gitana Cream Alameda Sweet Oloroso Wine
This wine is the result of the careful tradition of Bodegas Alameda, where for years the best Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez wines have been selected, from Palomino and Pedro Ximénez grapes. Both varieties are grown on white and albarized soils, so the grapes get very thick, producing fine and high quality musts.
This natural sweet wine is bright mahogany in color, with tile-colored reflections and thick, thick and silky tears. On the nose it is sharp and persistent, very elegant, where the sweet aromas of the raisins are mixed with the acid of the alcohol, achieving a good balance. On the palate it is sweet and velvety, full-bodied.
It is ideal for pairing with pastries, cured meats and old cheeses, with a powerful flavor. It can also be drunk neat, served very cold or with ice, as an aperitif, in a tall glass and with a slice of orange.
Origin and Use
After our comparison of sweet wines, we are going to continue explaining the origin of this type of wine, as well as its best mixes and combinations, to finish by explaining the best way to preserve them, so that they do not lose their organoleptic value. Finally, we will explain its nutritional value, so that you understand what you are drinking.
History
The first known sweet wines come from Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. However, in those days sweet wines were very different from what we know today, since those people did not have modern technologies, so they were wines of a sweet nature. To do this, they made sure that the grapes had the highest possible sugar content, letting the grapes dry in the sun, which caused the evaporation of water and the concentration of natural sugars. Once these raisins were pressed, the must was cooked and honey was added.
Those early sweet wines were very different, much coarser and thicker in texture, due to the honey added during cooking. In these wines, the final taste did not depend on the grapes, but on the flowers with which the honey had been made. In this sense, some of these wines could have balsamic flavors, if the honey came from an area with many mountain plants such as rosemary.
In general, they were cloying wines, so seawater was added, in order to increase the acidity and reduce the oppressive sweetness of the broth.
Nowadays, techniques have changed a lot and sweet wines are obtained through late harvests. By delaying the harvest of the grapes, they become “overripe”, so they begin the raisin process while they are still on the plant, which increases the final sugar content. Later, the raisins are pressed to obtain the must, which will begin to ferment in controlled environments. The key to these sweet wines is that the fermentation is stopped cold, deactivating the yeasts, which is why wines with a lot of alcohol and a sweet taste are obtained.
Thanks to these modern processes, the sweetness of the broths can be controlled, which is why some are sweeter, such as Pedro Ximénez, while others are more acidic, such as Port, to which brandy is added to balance its flavor and increase its shelf life.
In addition, as they do not have an artificial sweetener, the flavor of these wines comes from the grape and not from the ingredients added after fermentation. In this sense, some sweet wines, such as Moscatel or Mistela, have more fruity flavors and light, pale and golden colours. In contrast, Palomino grape wines are darker with tones ranging from ebony to tile, with more intense flavors of chocolate, vanilla or tobacco.
blends
We continue with our guide to buying the best sweet wine, explaining some of the best mixes you can make with this drink. A simple and pleasant way to drink sweet wine is on its own. In this sense, as if it were a vermouth, it can be enjoyed in a tall glass, with ice and a slice of orange that will help to reinforce the intense flavor of these broths.
In some places in central and northern Europe, these wines are drunk hot. To do this, they are heated over low heat, without letting them come to a boil at any time, and a series of spices such as cloves, cinnamon and other balsamic herbs are added, along with orange or lemon peel.
One of the oldest known cocktails, which appears in The Bartender Manual of 1913, is the Buffalo Fizz, which is made with a mixture of rye whiskey, Pedro Ximénez sweet wine, egg white, lemon juice, simple syrup and water. With gas.
Conservation
Despite being an inexpensive product, sweet wine can last for a long time without losing its properties. However, it is important to note that no matter how much it costs, these wines are sold in their best drinking state, so they should be consumed within two years of purchase.
For its conservation, the bottle must be kept covered at all times, in a horizontal position if it is closed and vertical if it is open. It must be in a dark place, with a constant temperature and without vibrations or sudden movements.
Nutritional value
100 grams of sweet wine provide 161 Kcal, as well as 0.20 g of protein, 13 g of carbohydrates, 4 mg of calcium and 0.40 g of iron.
drink responsibly
Sweet wine has an alcohol content that ranges from 7 to 17 degrees, so it should be consumed responsibly. You should never drive after having tasted this type of wine and those under 18 years of age should not consume it.
