Noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) is a fungus that, under the right conditions — warm, humid mornings followed by dry sunny afternoons — shrivels grapes on the vine, concentrating their sugars, acids and flavours while adding complex honeyed, mushroom and saffron notes. It is responsible for Sauternes, German Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese, Tokaji Aszu and numerous other great sweet wines.

What is the difference between Sauternes and Tokaji?

Sauternes is a botrytised sweet wine from Bordeaux, made primarily from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. It is honeyed, rich and golden with complex dried apricot and marmalade character. Tokaji is from Hungary, made from botrytised Furmint. Its sweetness is measured in puttonyos. Tokaji has a distinctive orange peel and dried fruit intensity with higher acidity than Sauternes.

How long does dessert wine last once opened?

Unlike table wine, quality dessert wine lasts remarkably well once opened — often for several weeks if recorked and refrigerated — because the high sugar content acts as a preservative. Sauternes can be kept open for a month. Port can last 2-4 weeks. This makes dessert wine excellent value despite higher prices per bottle.

What food pairs with dessert wine?

The classic rule is to serve wine at least as sweet as the food. Sauternes is magnificent with foie gras and Roquefort cheese. Sweet German Riesling suits fruit tarts and patisserie. Tokaji pairs with blue cheese, fruit desserts and foie gras. Late-harvest wine is versatile with lighter cream desserts.

Noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) is a fungus that, under the right conditions — warm, humid mornings followed by dry sunny afternoons — shrivels grapes on the vine, concentrating their sugars, acids and flavours while adding complex honeyed, mushroom and saffron notes. It is responsible for Sauternes, German Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese, Tokaji Aszu and numerous other great sweet wines.

What is the difference between Sauternes and Tokaji?

Sauternes is a botrytised sweet wine from Bordeaux, made primarily from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. It is honeyed, rich and golden with complex dried apricot and marmalade character. Tokaji is from Hungary, made from botrytised Furmint. Its sweetness is measured in puttonyos. Tokaji has a distinctive orange peel and dried fruit intensity with higher acidity than Sauternes.

How long does dessert wine last once opened?

Unlike table wine, quality dessert wine lasts remarkably well once opened — often for several weeks if recorked and refrigerated — because the high sugar content acts as a preservative. Sauternes can be kept open for a month. Port can last 2-4 weeks. This makes dessert wine excellent value despite higher prices per bottle.

What food pairs with dessert wine?

The classic rule is to serve wine at least as sweet as the food. Sauternes is magnificent with foie gras and Roquefort cheese. Sweet German Riesling suits fruit tarts and patisserie. Tokaji pairs with blue cheese, fruit desserts and foie gras. Late-harvest wine is versatile with lighter cream desserts.

Dessert Wine

Dessert wines represent one of wine's most extraordinary and diverse categories — from botrytised Sauternes and late-harvest German Riesling to fortified Port and Sherry, Passito from Italy and ice wines from Austria — each a unique expression of concentrated sweetness, complexity and sheer pleasure. Wines Direct curates a selection of the world's finest dessert wines from quality-focused independent producers across Europe's greatest sweet wine regions.

Vegan

Sustainable
Bender 'I Love Mosel' Riesling QW Germany
Bender 'I Love Mosel' Riesling QW Germany

Regular price €23.25

Regular price Sale price €23.25
Unit price per
Organic
Stefano Accordini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Italy
Stefano Accordini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Italy

Regular price €38.00

Regular price Sale price €38.00
Unit price per
Vegan

Sustainable
Haut Rian Coulous Cadillac AOC France
Haut Rian Coulous Cadillac AOC France

Regular price €23.75

Regular price Sale price €23.75
Unit price per
Sustainable
Pier Paolo Antolini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Italy 50CL
Pier Paolo Antolini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Italy 50CL

Regular price €30.00

Regular price Sale price €30.00
Unit price per

More about Dessert Wines

Adding some dazzle to your dessert need not be any more difficult than pouring from a bottle. Or if you want something sweet without all the calories, you can push aside the dessert trolley and just choose one of these wines. All these wines are meant to be hugged and enjoyed, rather like a fine whiskey. So sit back and let the sheer luxury of these wines wash over you.

Dessert wine encompasses some of the world's most complex, age-worthy and emotionally powerful wines — wines of extraordinary sweetness, concentration and longevity that are the result of specific natural or winemaking processes that concentrate the grape's sugars and flavours. Sauternes — made from Semillon affected by Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) in Bordeaux — is the world's greatest sweet white wine: honeyed, complex, capable of aging for decades. German Trockenbeerenauslese and Beerenauslese are made from individually selected, overripe or botrytised berries of extraordinary concentration. Tokaji Aszu from Hungary using botrytised Furmint grapes is one of the world's most ancient and most complex dessert wines. At Wines Direct we stock a carefully chosen range of dessert wines across every style.

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Bender 'I Love Mosel' Riesling QW Germany

Bender 'I Love Mosel' Riesling QW Germany

Stefano Accordini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Italy

Stefano Accordini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Italy

Haut Rian Coulous Cadillac AOC France

Haut Rian Coulous Cadillac AOC France

Pier Paolo Antolini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Italy 50CL

Pier Paolo Antolini Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Italy 50CL

More about Dessert Wines

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