The residual sugar (RS) content of a wine is used to determine its sweetness. This is the naturally occurring sugar (fructose) that is present in grapes and is retained in the wine following the fermentation of alcohol. Grams per litre are used to measure it, and one gram of sweetness is equal to ten grams of residual sugar per litre.
Alcohol is produced during yeast fermentation. Therefore, the more alcohol a wine has, the less residual sugar it will have. A dry wine does contain some residual sugar; however, sweetness levels below 1.5% are usually undetectable to most people.
The secret to the enchantment of sweet white wine is a shorter fermentation period. There is a residual sweetness in the grape juice because not all of the natural sugar is fermented into alcohol. In addition to halting the fermentation process, winemakers also manipulate sweetness by employing methods to elevate the sugar content in grapes while they are still on the vine. These consist of cold temperatures, late harvesting, and noble rot. Keep reading about the top sweet white wines!
Top 10 Sweetest White Wines
Riesling
Riesling is a flexible grape variety that can be utilised to make dry and sweet wines.The vibrant fruit flavours of sweet Rieslings, which frequently express apple, pear, and peach and are blended with floral and mineral overtones, are well known. They frequently possess a noticeable mineral quality as well. The high acidity of the Riesling grape prevents the wine from feeling overly sweet.
Canada produces sweet ice wines from Riesling grapes, and the Alsace region of Germany and France produces some of the sweetest varieties that cost around ₹5,000 - ₹30,000. Spicy cuisines like Indian, Thai, Chinese, or Mexican food go well with sweet riesling wine since it can tame the heat of these dishes. Additionally, these wines make a delicious contrast when paired with hearty meals like duck, foie gras, and roast pork. Fruity sweets, such as apple or pear tarts, are the ideal choice for the sweetest palates as the meal comes to a close.
Late Harvest Gewürztraminer
Overripe Gewürztraminer grapes collected later in the season are used to make the sweet white wine known as Gewürztraminer. This technique concentrates the grape’s sugars, creating a rich, aromatic wine with notes of lychee, rose, and exotic spices. Harvest Gewürztraminer wines mix nicely with many sweets, from vanilla ice cream to fruitcakes. It can cost anywhere around ₹5,000 - ₹20,000.
Chenin Blanc
Sweet Chenin Blanc wines from France’s Loire Valley offer notes of apple, citrus, honey, acacia, toasted almond, and quince. Due to their brilliant acidity, they can age for decades and become increasingly complex with time. Sweet Chenin Blanc wines pair well with spicy Asian and Spanish cuisine, much like sweet Rieslings do. It has a similar price tag of ₹3,000 - ₹15,000 too.
Domaine Des Nouelles Rosé D’Anjou
A prominent wine-producing region in the Loire Valley, Anjou is known for its cabernet franc reds and rosés. Anjou rosés, or Rosé d'Anjou, are distinguished by their off-dry and slightly sweet flavour profile, in contrast to the dry rosés of Touraine, Sancerre, and other Loire-based appellations. This vibrant, fruit-forward bottle from Domaine des Nouelles is bursting with flavours of sweet cherries, red currants, and rose petals. You can get a bottle only for ₹2,000 - ₹4,000. Serve cold with sugary crepes, a fresh strawberry dish, or just drink by itself.
Moscato D’Asti
Moscato d'Asti is a sparkling white wine from the Piedmont area of northern Italy. It is well-known for its floral scents, which include orange blossom, honeysuckle, and elderflower. Its flavours range from peach, orange, and pear to hints of green apple and tropical fruits like mango, and it has a robust fruit profile.
This sweet white wine, which comes in frezzante (lightly sparkling) and spumante (totally effervescent) varieties, is made from native Italian Moscato grapes. For birthday celebrations, Moscato d'Asti is a more affordable (₹1,500 - ₹3,000) and sweeter option than Prosecco, and it goes well with a slice of vanilla cake.
Muscat
Famous for its sweet and fragrant flavour, Muscat is made from one of the oldest known grape varieties. It is available in various forms, including sparkling, still, dry, and extremely sweet. Rich flavours of fruit and flowers abound in the wine, which frequently smells of orange blossom, ripe peach, and juicy apricot. For added richness, some varieties—like Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise—are even fortified. They can range up to ₹3,000 - ₹15,000.
Although made all over the world, some of the best examples come from France, Italy (where it's called Moscato), Spain, and Australia. Famous sweet Muscat white wines are produced from sun-dried, overripe grapes on the Greek island of Samos. These oak-aged wines may have rich, cosy aromas of sweet citrus, sultana, honey, and dried almonds. Owing to their sweetness, they're frequently served as an aperitif or coupled with desserts like Christmas pudding and crème brûlée.
Sauternes
One of the most popular sweet white wines is Sauternes, produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Mostly made from Sémillon grapes, which are frequently impacted by noble rot, it is sometimes combined with Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc. The noble rot concentrates the sugars, resulting in wines that are distinctly rich and sweet.
A rich blend of honeyed tropical fruit, apricots, and almonds, together with notes of butterscotch, lemon, coconut, and ginger, characterises Sauternes. Thanks to a counterbalancing acidity, it's not excessively sweet, costing around ₹10,000 - ₹50,000 (can be much higher for premium vintages). The wine has exceptional ageing potential due to its high alcohol and sugar levels. Although sauternes are typically served with foie gras, blue cheese, or decadent sweets, they can also be enjoyed on their own as a magnificent way to end a meal.
Tokaji Aszú
Hungary's Tokaj wine area produces the well-known sweet wine Tokaji Aszú. Mostly made from native Furmint grapes, it's well-known for its unusual method of production, which involves picking each grape separately to guarantee a high sugar concentration, even if noble rot frequently affects them. The outcome is a richly sweet wine with just the right amount of natural acidity to counterbalance its sweetness. It costs ₹10,000 - ₹50,000 (can be much higher for premium vintages).
Honey, apricot, and exotic spices are common flavour profiles, along with a hint of minerality. Tokaji AszÍ is sweet, yet it has a surprising sharpness to it. These wines age exceptionally well and are delicious young, but they also age well over several decades. While it's delicious on its own, you may also have a glass with desserts like caramelised apples, dark chocolate, and roasted pineapple.
Vin Santo
Italy's traditional sweet white wine is called Vin Santo. White grape varietals like Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano are used to make the wine; the grapes are dried on straw mats to concentrate their sugar content before fermentation. A sweet, amber-coloured wine with flavours of raisins, honey, and nuts is produced by this technique in conjunction with a lengthy ageing period in tiny oak barrels. Vin Santo is typically served with panettone and cantucci, a type of traditional Tuscan almond biscuit. It can range in sweetness from mild to very sweet. Per bottle can cost around ₹5,000 - ₹20,000.
Ice Wine
Ice wine, often referred to as "Eiswein" in Germany and Austria, is a dessert wine recognised for its strong sweetness and well-balanced acidity. In areas with harsh winters, like Canada and Germany, it is made from grapes that are left to freeze naturally on the vine. The grapes' sugars and acids are concentrated throughout the freezing process, which results in a very sweet and flavourful wine during fermentation. It ranges from ₹10,000 - ₹50,000. The rich, sweet flavour of ice wine is well-known, and it frequently has undertones of citrus, honey, peaches, and tropical fruits. It pairs well with rich, creamy pastries or makes a delicious after-dinner treat since its acidity keeps it refreshing despite its richness.