Sweet Wine Doesn't Mean Cheap
So virtually all of us have experienced sweet wine in one form or another. Many times through trial and error drinking cheap wine products in college…ala Boone’s Farms, and later graduating to White Zinfandel – a better quality product, yet still capable or putting you into a headache producing sugar coma.
Unfortunately this image of the sticky, sweet, flavored mishmash stuck in a wine-shaped bottle has left a lasting impression that isn’t always favorable. There is nothing wrong with strawberry-like flavors in your wine, but it should never be an artificial additive. Nor should red #5 or Blue number whatever ever be associated with wine.
Here’s an easy one to remember: If there is an ingredient list on a wine bottle…move on. Wine should only contain grapes (or other fresh fruits in the case of fruit wines) and in most cases some natural ingredients, like sulfates and yeasts to retard spoilage and help the natural fermentation process.
Well I’m here to whisk you away from these bad memories and the accompanying hangovers, to introduce you to sweet wines that are amongst the finest wines anywhere. Yes you can drink sweet and still be respectable.
Starting at the milder end of the spectrum try a demi-sec Vouray from the Loire Valley of France. This slightly sweet Chenin Blanc offers stone fruit flavors and a rich, mouthfilling flavor in a lighter-bodied wine. The sweetness is present but not overpowering and made to match well with food.
Speaking of matching well with food, I’ve previously mentioned how well Rieslings go with food. These wines -- most well known from Germany -- come in styles from completely dry to slightly sweet all the way up to thick, sweet dessert wines with enough sugar to keep the dentist busy. The key though is the acidity which counters the sweetness. This makes it food friendly as well as balanced, so you can avoid those nasty sugar headaches.
Another option is to try a sparkling wine that is off-dry. Again, you can find demi-sec champagnes but also look for more unique wines like Jean-Paul Brun’s FRV 100, a sparkling semi-sweet rose made from the Beaujolais-grown grape Gamay. The berry and strawberry flavors are addictive and while you can drink this with savory foods, it will also pair nicely with desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries or fresh fruit tarts.
Want something a bit less sparkling, look to Moscato D’Asti from Italy. This sweet, light, peach nectar-like drink is slightly fizzy, but so refreshing and low in alcohol you may drink the entire bottle yourself. Brachetto D’Aqui, also from Italy, is a red, fizzy, semi-sweet wine similar to Moscato, but with more body and tart berry flavors. Both work beautifully on a hot summer day with some fruit or cheese or just sippin’ on the porch swing.
And of course you can’t forget that Spanish specialty…Sangria. Simply mix wine with fruit and juice or sugar and have a great time.
Want my secret Sangria recipe?
1 part Manishewitz Concord Grape wine (trust me)
1 Part dry, medium-bodied red wine
Splash of peach schnapps or triple sec
Chopped apples and oranges (peaches are great too!)
Simple mix in a pitcher, place in a fridge for at least 3 hours and enjoy.
It gets even better the next day!
There you have it, a quick rundown of sweet wines that you can enjoy without feeling embarrassed telling people you like sweet wine. Of course there are many more, so as I always say, go out and talk to your local wine merchant to find out what they have available and try new things.
Now go relax and enjoy some sweetness…and wipe out those bad memories of yesteryear.
Unfortunately this image of the sticky, sweet, flavored mishmash stuck in a wine-shaped bottle has left a lasting impression that isn’t always favorable. There is nothing wrong with strawberry-like flavors in your wine, but it should never be an artificial additive. Nor should red #5 or Blue number whatever ever be associated with wine.
Here’s an easy one to remember: If there is an ingredient list on a wine bottle…move on. Wine should only contain grapes (or other fresh fruits in the case of fruit wines) and in most cases some natural ingredients, like sulfates and yeasts to retard spoilage and help the natural fermentation process.
Well I’m here to whisk you away from these bad memories and the accompanying hangovers, to introduce you to sweet wines that are amongst the finest wines anywhere. Yes you can drink sweet and still be respectable.
Starting at the milder end of the spectrum try a demi-sec Vouray from the Loire Valley of France. This slightly sweet Chenin Blanc offers stone fruit flavors and a rich, mouthfilling flavor in a lighter-bodied wine. The sweetness is present but not overpowering and made to match well with food.
Speaking of matching well with food, I’ve previously mentioned how well Rieslings go with food. These wines -- most well known from Germany -- come in styles from completely dry to slightly sweet all the way up to thick, sweet dessert wines with enough sugar to keep the dentist busy. The key though is the acidity which counters the sweetness. This makes it food friendly as well as balanced, so you can avoid those nasty sugar headaches.
Another option is to try a sparkling wine that is off-dry. Again, you can find demi-sec champagnes but also look for more unique wines like Jean-Paul Brun’s FRV 100, a sparkling semi-sweet rose made from the Beaujolais-grown grape Gamay. The berry and strawberry flavors are addictive and while you can drink this with savory foods, it will also pair nicely with desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries or fresh fruit tarts.
Want something a bit less sparkling, look to Moscato D’Asti from Italy. This sweet, light, peach nectar-like drink is slightly fizzy, but so refreshing and low in alcohol you may drink the entire bottle yourself. Brachetto D’Aqui, also from Italy, is a red, fizzy, semi-sweet wine similar to Moscato, but with more body and tart berry flavors. Both work beautifully on a hot summer day with some fruit or cheese or just sippin’ on the porch swing.
And of course you can’t forget that Spanish specialty…Sangria. Simply mix wine with fruit and juice or sugar and have a great time.
Want my secret Sangria recipe?
1 part Manishewitz Concord Grape wine (trust me)
1 Part dry, medium-bodied red wine
Splash of peach schnapps or triple sec
Chopped apples and oranges (peaches are great too!)
Simple mix in a pitcher, place in a fridge for at least 3 hours and enjoy.
It gets even better the next day!
There you have it, a quick rundown of sweet wines that you can enjoy without feeling embarrassed telling people you like sweet wine. Of course there are many more, so as I always say, go out and talk to your local wine merchant to find out what they have available and try new things.
Now go relax and enjoy some sweetness…and wipe out those bad memories of yesteryear.