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    • Dessert wine

    A meal is not complete without a beautiful sweet dessert wine! Sauternes, Vin Santo, Moscato d’Asti, or an intense Port? We have them in all varieties at Wijnclubamsterdam.nl.

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    It is always difficult to choose a sweet dessert wine. Sweet—it sounds so simple and seems so straightforward, yet at the same time there is so much variety that the choice is sometimes hard to make. From fresh and sweet, and even sparkling, to long-aged and amber-colored. There is something to be found for every dish. And sometimes these combinations can be very interesting! Salt and sweet as a combination, for example. A spicy Stilton cheese with a ruby ​​port. But then again, Tawny port with slightly nutty cheeses like Gruyere and Emmental. But then again, that same port can also be delicious with a freshly baked Dutch apple tart. And that unusual Sauternes—but complex and ageable for decades? Superb with a bread and butter pudding or even a slice of foie gras! And fruit salad with a scoop of sorbet? Then we’ll just grab that Moscato d’Asti, won't we? There is indeed so much choice, but what exactly are the differences? We believe we have put together an extensive wine candy store for you, where you can find a wide variety of wines. If you cannot find something, please send us an email so we can search for your desired wine!

    Take your time browsing the store and discover our extensive range of red wines, then order easily and securely online. We deliver your favorite wines from our warehouse in Amsterdam to your home throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. 

    How is dessert wine actually made?  

    Does dessert wine actually come from extra-sweet grapes? Sometimes it does, but certainly not always. That is because there are multiple methods for making a sweet wine. There are hundreds of different types of dessert wines available on the market, but most fall into 5 main styles. We will briefly explain them here.  

     Sweet sparkling wines 

    Due to the carbonation and high acidity in sweet sparkling wines, they taste less sweet than they actually are! Certain grape varieties smell sweeter than others. This tricks our brains into thinking that they taste sweeter too! A Demi-Sec (also known as “Semi Secco”) Moscato, for example, tastes sweeter than a Demi-Sec Champagne, although both may contain the same amount of sugar. The champagne actually has more acidity.  

    If you are looking for champagnes or other sweet sparkling wines, pay close attention to these words on the label: 

    • Demi-Sec* (means “off-dry” in French, is often sweetish) 
    • Amabile (“slightly sweet” in Italian) 
    • Semi Secco* (“off-dry” in Italian) 
    • Doux (“sweet” in French) 
    • Dolce / Dulce (“sweet” in Italian / Spanish) 
    • Moelleux (“sweet” for some French wines) 

     Lightly sweet still white wines

    Semi-sweet wines are refreshingly sweet; perfect for a warm afternoon. Many of these sweet wines pair well with spicy dishes such as Indian or Southeast Asian cuisine. Semi-sweet wines are best drunk as close to the harvest date as possible, except for rare examples, such as German Riesling, which can age quite well! 

    Expect these wines to explode with fruit flavors and be very suitable for fruit and vanilla-based desserts. Consider Gewürztraminer, for example: this wine is known for its aromas of lychee and rose petals. A Gewürztraminer, for instance, pairs excellently with fruit tarts. Lightly sweet dessert wines are often made from the following grapes:  

    Gewürztraminer 

    A very floral wine with moderate alcohol content that is common in Alsace, Alto Adige (Italy), California, and New Zealand. It can be produced dry or sweet. For example, as a Vendange Tardive or selections de grain nobles from Alsace. 

    Riesling 

    Available in both dry styles (common in Australia, Alsace, and the US) and sweeter styles that are more frequently available from Germany. A wine with high natural acidity ensures that the sweet taste remains beautifully balanced.  

    Chenin Blanc 

    The sweet versions are mainly known from the Loire Valley in France. When buying Chenin Blanc, pay attention to the labels, as many South African and French producers also make dry versions. 

    Rich, sweet, unfortified dessert wines

    Rich sweet wines are made with the highest quality grapes in an unfortified style. Many of these wines can age for 50+ years because sweetness and acidity preserve their fresh taste. Some of these wines are historically important, including Hungarian Tokaji ('toe-kye'), which was beloved by the Tsars of Russia; South African Constantia, an obsession of the Dutch and English; and French Sauternes. There are various ways to make rich sweet dessert wines, and you can understand them better by how they are made. So, here is a brief technical overview. 

    Late harvest 

    Late harvest means exactly what it is called. As the grapes hang on the vine longer during the season, they become even sweeter and rosier, resulting in grapes with a concentrated sweetness. In Alsace, late harvest is called “Vendage Tardive”, and in Germany, it is called “Spätlese”. 

    Any grape remaining on the vine can be used for late-harvest wines. That being said, it is popular to find late-harvest wines made with Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, and Riesling grapes. 

    Noble Rot 

    Noble rot is a type of fungus called Botrytis cinerea that eats fruits and vegetables. Although it doesn't sound (or look) appetizing, noble rot adds unique flavors of ginger, saffron, and honey to sweet wines. 

    There are many popular types of dessert wines made from noble rot grapes. 

    Sauternes: A group of French appellations in and around Bordeaux, including Sauternes, Barsac, Cadillac, and Monbazillac, that use Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc in a rich, golden sweet wine. 

    Tokaji: Tokaji Aszú is a wine from Hungary made from Furmint grapes. 

    Auslese, BA and TBA Riesling: (BA = Beerenauslese and TBA = Trockenbeerenauslese) In the German Pradikat system (a sweetness labeling system), Auslese is the first level with a higher proportion of botrytis-affected grapes. Besides being sweeter than “QbA” and “Kabinett” German Rieslings, they usually also have a higher alcohol content. 

    Vin de Paille: (also known as “Passito”). Grapes are laid on straw mats to ripen prior to winemaking. Examples include Italian Vin Santo and Passito. Particularly from the Jura region of France, which borders the Alps, these Vin de Paille are produced using Chardonnay and old Savagnin grapes. 

    Eiswein 

    Authentic Eiswein is extremely rare and expensive for two reasons. First, it only occurs in bizarre years when the grapes in the vineyard freeze to at least -6 degrees. And second: Eiswein must be harvested and pressed while the grapes are still frozen! 

    De grootste “ice-wine” producent ter wereld is Canada. Je vindt Eiswein in koelere streken zoals Duitsland, Oostenrijk en Zwitserland. 

     Sweet Red Wine

    Sweet red wines are in decline, except for cheap commercial production. However, there are still a few well-made, historically interesting sweet red wines worth trying. The majority of these great sweet red wines come from Italy with esoteric grapes. 

    Lambrusco 

    A region that produces a refreshing sparkling wine in both dry and sweet styles. Because it is a sparkling wine, it will have a yeasty undertone, along with raspberry and blueberry aromas. Sweet versions are designated as “Amabile” and “Dulce”. 

    Brachetto d’Acqui 

    A still and sparkling red or rosé wine made with Brachetto grapes from the Piedmont region. Famous for its aromas of flowers and strawberries, as well as its affinity for pairing with cured meats. 

    Recioto della Valpolicella 

    Made using the same meticulous process as Amarone wine, Recioto della Valpolicella is lush, bold, and rich. Recioto is a sweet Amarone with a slightly lower alcohol content since not all the sugars have been fermented.  

    Fortified wine 

    Fortified wines are made when grape brandy is added to a wine and can be either dry or sweet. Most fortified wines have a higher alcohol content (approximately 17-20% ABV) and have a longer shelf life after opening. 

    Port 

    Port wine is produced in northern Portugal along the Douro River. These sweet red wines are made with dozens of traditional Portuguese grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. The grapes are harvested and fermented together in open tanks, where they are crushed daily as the wine begins to ferment. 

    Op een bepaald moment tijdens de gisting wordt de massa gefilterd en gemengd met een heldere druivenspirit (met bijna 70% ) die de gisting stopt en de wijn versterkt. 

    Vin Doux Naturel 

    Often white wines made from the Muscat grape which are fortified during fermentation. The result is a delicious fruity wine that is also excellent as an aperitif. 

    Muscat de Rivesaltes, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Rutherglen Muscat (Australia), Orange Muscat and Vin Santo Liquoroso (Italy). 

    Sherry 

    Sherry comes from Andalusia, Spain. The wines are made with Palomino, Pedro Ximénez (a grape, not a person), and Moscatel grapes. Wines are produced with varying amounts of the three grapes and are deliberately oxidized so that they develop nutty aromas. 

    Fino (dry) 

    The lightest and driest of all sherries, with sharp and nutty flavors. 

    Manzanilla (dry) 

    A specific style of Fino Sherry from a more specialized region that is even lighter than Fino. 

    Palo Cortado (dry) 

    A slightly richer style of sherry that is aged longer, producing a darker color and a richer flavor. These wines are usually dry but have fruit and nutty aromas with a salty character. 

    Amontillado (usually dry) 

    An aged sherry that takes on nutty flavors of peanuts and butter. 

    Oloroso (dry) 

    A very mature and dark sherry with a higher alcohol content due to the evaporation of water as the wine ages. This is more similar to Sherry whisky. 

    Crème Sherry (sweet) 

    A sweet style of Sherry made by blending Oloroso with Pedro Ximénez Sherry. 

    Moscatel (sweet) 

    A sweet sherry with flavors of figs and dates. 

    Pedro Ximénez (PX) (very sweet) 

    A very sweet sherry with flavors of brown sugar and figs. 

    Madeira 

    Madeira is a wine produced using up to four different grape varieties on the island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Madeira is very different from other wines because, to produce it, the wines undergo a heating and oxidation process—techniques that would traditionally “ruin” a wine. 

    The result is a rich fortified wine with nutty flavors, salinity, and a richness on the palate. Due to the four different grape varieties used, Madeiras range from dry to sweet, making them pair well with a meal or even as an aperitif. 

    Sercial (dry) 

    Sercial is the driest and lightest of all the grapes on Madeira. These wines have higher acidity and are dry with notes of peach and apricot. It is not uncommon to see Sercial Madeira reach 100 years of age. 

    Verdelho (dry) 

    Verdelho has citrus notes and will develop nutty flavors of almond and walnut over time. 

    Bual (sweet) 

    Bual leans towards the sweet side with notes of burnt caramel, brown sugar, fig, root beer, and black walnut. It is common to find 10-year-old ‘medium’ (meaning: medium sweet) Bual Madeira, although there are also various well-aged 50-70-year-old Bual. 

    Malmsey (sweet) 

    Malmsey Madeiras have orange-citrus notes and caramel in their flavor, along with an oily, oxidized, nutty taste. 

    Vin Doux Naturel (VDN) 

    Vin Doux Naturel is made in a style similar to Port, where a base wine is produced and finished with neutral grape brandy. The term vin doux naturel originates from France, but this classification can be used to describe a wine from anywhere. 

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