Late harvest wine is known for its delicious sweet flavour. There are several stories behind the discovery of this winemaking method but the one that stands out the most is the French one. It is said that the owner of a castle went on a journey and told his workers not to pick grapes until he returned. When he finally arrived home, the grapes in his vineyard had been affected by a fungus that caused them to wither. Despite this unappetizing appearance, the shrivelled grapes were stripped from the vines and used to make wine. Surprisingly, the wine had a surprising sweet flavour. From that day on, the owner of the castle wanted to harvest his grapes only when they were already withered. It is important to note that although it is a fungus responsible for evaporating water from grapes, it is a friendly variety that poses no health risks.

Ice wine

One of the most popular and sometimes most expensive late harvest wine varieties is ice wine. These grapes are harvested during the winter while frozen. They are pressed using more powerful presses than those used in normal winemaking.

Properly chilled

When serving ice wine or any other type of late harvest wine, it is important to keep sweetness in mind. This is not the type of wine that can be drunk in large quantities. They are often served cold and in small (almost miniature) wine glasses. You drink a few sips at a time and it is customary to drink one or two glasses at most.

Appropriate pairing

These wines are often served to guests without pairing them with any particular snack or meal. That said, many wine enthusiasts prefer to serve such a sweet wine after dinner. It is especially appetizing for those who love wine but avoid rich desserts. So instead of eating a cake or pudding, they can enjoy this delicious late harvest wine. Serving this wine after meals also means your guests won’t be inclined to binge. It serves the same purpose as a glass of good cognac after a delicious meal.

As you can see, just like many other varieties, late harvest wine will need to be served in the correct manner and along with the appropriate foods in order to ensure that you get the most out of its rich, sweet flavour.