When pairing a sweet dish with a glass of wine, it’s always good to make sure that the wine is at least as sweet as the dish itself. Its level of acidity is also important since this will help balance out all that sweetness. Different types of sweet wines are best suited for different desserts. This is largely due to their level of sweetness and the various flavours.
Late harvest
This wine is made from grapes that are harvested later than usual (hence the name). The grapes mature and have higher levels of sugar. Since the grapes are sweeter, so too is the wine. There are both red and white varieties. The white ones taste like citrus fruits, baked apple, and even honey! Red varieties have more of a dried cherry or even a chocolate-like flavour. The best desserts to pair with these wines are cheesecake (varieties with berries), apple pie, fruit tarts, carrot cake and, in some cases, even chocolate!
Sparkling Wines
There are varying degrees of sweetness when it comes to bubbly. The most common flavours you will pick up on include pear, apple, berry, and citrus. This makes sparkling wine the perfect companion for cheesecake, apple pie, pumpkin pie, custard-fruit tarts, and English toffee.
Port
While Port is a specific type of wine, there are some similar wines on the market as well. They are not marketed as Port but they can be paired with the same desserts. The most noticeable flavours in a glass of Port are those of dark cherries and berries, chocolate, and even liquorice! Desserts with a chocolate or mocha flavour go really well with Port as does pecan pie.
So, if you are planning on sending a wine hamper or serving wine with desserts after a delicious meal, remember these pairing ideas. If you want to send a sweet wine, look for gift baskets that include the perfect sweet treats to complete your gift!