Okay, so about dessert wines. For ages, I kinda just thought sweet wine was, well, sweet wine. You know, the cheap stuff you might have had once and didn’t love. But I kept hearing people talk about different kinds, and eventually, I got curious enough to actually dive in and figure it out myself.
Getting Started – Just Picking Something
My first real step was just going into a wine shop, looking completely lost, I’m sure. I didn’t know where to begin. Sauternes? Port? Ice Wine? Sounded fancy, but I had no clue. So, I did what anyone does when overwhelmed – I grabbed a bottle that looked interesting and wasn’t crazily expensive. I think it was a Late Harvest Riesling from somewhere.
Took it home. Chilled it down like the bottle suggested. Poured a small glass after dinner one night. And okay, yeah, it was sweet, but it wasn’t just sweet. It had this nice fruity thing going on, zippy acidity too, so it wasn’t like drinking syrup. That first taste made me think, “Alright, maybe there’s something more to this.”
Trying Out Different Styles
So, the next time I went shopping, I decided to be a bit more intentional. I started trying to pick out different types I’d heard mentioned. Here’s roughly how I stumbled through it:
- Sauternes: Heard this was a classic. Found a half-bottle (they can be pricey!). This one was thicker, more honey and apricot vibes. Really complex. Drank this one super slowly. Definitely a special occasion thing for me.
- Port: This was a whole different world. Started with a basic Ruby Port. Fruity, rich, good with chocolate. Easy to get into. Then I tried a Tawny Port. Whoa. Nutty, caramel flavors, way smoother from aging in wood. Liked this one a lot too, but different mood entirely.
- Ice Wine (Eiswein): This stuff sounded wild – grapes frozen on the vine. Got my hands on a Canadian Vidal Ice Wine. Tiny bottle, big price tag usually. But the taste! Super concentrated, like pure fruit nectar. Very intense sweetness, but again, good acidity balanced it out. A real treat.
- Moscato d’Asti: Wanted something lighter, bubbly maybe. Tried this Italian one. Lower alcohol, fizzy, grapey, easy drinking. Totally different from the others. More of an afternoon sipper, maybe.
- Tokaji: Someone recommended this Hungarian wine. Found one labeled ‘5 Puttonyos’. Similar richness to Sauternes, maybe? That honey and fruit thing again, but unique in its own way. Really enjoyed exploring that flavour profile.
Figuring Out What I Like
After trying a bunch like this, just picking different bottles over months, I started to get a feel for the landscape. It wasn’t about finding the best one, more about understanding the variety. Some are intensely sweet and rich, needing tiny sips. Others are lighter, fruitier. Some are fortified (like Port), giving them that extra kick and different flavor profile.
The main thing I learned was that ‘dessert wine’ isn’t one category. It’s loads of different styles, made in different ways, from different grapes, all over the world. Now, when I’m looking for something sweet, I have a better idea of what I might be in the mood for. Am I feeling like something rich and nutty? Maybe a Tawny Port. Something bright and fruity? Maybe a late-harvest Riesling. Something super decadent? Ice Wine or Sauternes.
It’s been a fun process, just trying things out. Still exploring, honestly. Always seems like there’s another style or region I haven’t gotten to yet. But yeah, that’s basically how I went from knowing nothing to at least having a few favorites and understanding the basics through trial and error.
