Last Updated on March 1, 2024 by Lydia Martin
If you are new to wine or love some fruity, floral, and delightful honeyed flavors of wine, sweet white wines are easier and enjoyable on the palate.
With the wide variety of sweet white wines on the market today, these expert picks will help you discover the best sweet white wine brands and buy the best bottles for your collection.
Keep scrolling and get to know more about these deliciously sweet wines.
Top 10 Sweet White Wine Brands To Try
10. Château d’Yquem
Château d’Yquem is one of the best sweet white wines for wine lovers who are fond of sweeter wines.
Château d’Yquem is one of the famous Sauternes wines that can be expensive, but this vintage wine oozes with honey, white blossom, and tropical fruit flavors.
It features an aromatic nose of guava, lemongrass, and sweet pineapple, and a fruit flavor with minerals, tropical fruit, and spice notes.
The naturally sweet white wine pairs well with strawberries, cream, cheesecake, baked plums, apricot tart, and fruity ice cream.
9. Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Honivogl Grüner Veltliner Smaragd
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Honivogl Grüner Veltliner Smaragd is a very sweet wine from Austria.
It is made from Gruner Veltiner grapes [1] and features a combination of mouth-watering acidity, fresh fruit, and a semi-sweet taste.
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Honivogl Grüner Veltliner Smaragd can appeal to your palate if you love Sauvignon Blanc.
In addition, the sweet dessert wine offers classic notes of snap peas, cracked pepper, and apricot with a rich and creamy taste.
Aside from sweetness, the slight bitterness with a crisp acidity is noticeable in every sip. The tasting notes are light and beginner-friendly.
8. Royal Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos
Royal Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos is a delicious dessert wine from Hungary, and it is made using late-harvest botrytis that undergoes a fermentation process for two days.
The sweet wine is matured in Hungarian oak barrels for two years to develop complex flavors and floral notes.
The aromatic wine [2] has lots of fruitiness and spice, vibrant freshness, and great structure.
It features sweet flavors and crisp high acidity with citrus notes, all attributes of the long aging process.
7. Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is an elegant sweet wine and one of the most refined dessert wines in the world.
It is one of the sweetest white wines from Germany that is extremely rare and expensive.
While it is light in alcohol, this sweet wine boasts bold flavors of burnt sugar and honey and a fully mature aroma of raisin and dry apricot.
6. Vinoptima Estate Noble Late Harvest Gewurztraminer
Vinoptima Estate Noble Late Harvest Gewurztraminer is a highly recommended dessert wine made from 100% late harvest Gewurztraminer.
The late-harvest wines contain around 115 g/l residual sugar and 12.5% ABV. It is yellow-gold and exhibits a sweet botrytis aroma.
The late-harvest wines have a fragrant array of dried fruits, apricots, andromeda dates, orange marmalade, and mandarin.
On the palate, it has a luscious and intense flavor of dried fruit flavors, green apple, and stone fruits.
For maximum enjoyment, we recommend pairing it with Asian cuisine and spicy dishes.
5. Peller Estates Signature Series Oak Aged Vidal Blanc
Peller Estates Signature Series Oak Aged Vidal Blanc is an ice wine from Canada with the luscious mouthfeel of guava, melon, papaya, and gooseberry.
The bright yellow-colored sweet white wine has lingering notes of exotic spice, apple pie, and marmalade, with a luscious and silky mouthfeel.
It is one of the desert wines with a great concentration of acidity and leaves a balanced finish.
4. Inniskillin Niagara Peninsula Vidal Icewine
Inniskillin Niagara Peninsula Vidal Icewine is made from Vidal grapes. The frozen grapes are pressed, and the solids and sugars are removed to craft a concentrated grape juice.
The Canadian Ice Wine features 9.5% ABV, and this bottle of dessert wine has a bold yet balanced sweet and fruity flavor.
This Ice wine is well-recognized by wine enthusiasts because of its sweet nature.
Inniskillin is a dinner table staple, and we enjoyed it with strong cheese, foie gras, and spicy foods.
3. Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is one of the sweetest wines that is praised by wine enthusiasts worldwide.
The harvested grapes (sweet rieslings) boast well-balanced tasting notes of tropical fruits, sweet spices, and apple flavors.
If you are not into red wines, you can try this sweet white wine from Germany with minimal residual sugar. You will appreciate this drink with spicy and savory dishes.
2. Groot Constantia Grand Constance Muscat
Groot Constantia Grand Constance Muscat is one of the top sweet wines from South Africa and one of the most expensive brands of Muscat in circulation.
It has a rich history and is part of the World Wide Heritage.
The white wine features a complex and deep flavor profile from the Muscat grape with bold caramel and smoke.
Groot Constantia Grand Constance Muscat is naturally sweet and does not undergo additional processes to enhance its sweetness.
1. Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano
Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano welcomes you with the overwhelming sweet aromas of maple syrup, caramel, and candied orange zest.
The grapes used to make Vin Santo wines are premium and high quality. As we sip, the white wine has noticeable smoothness to the palate and carries other flavors like hazelnut and black cherry jam.
Types of Sweet White Wines
Sauternes
Sauternes is one of the sweet white wine styles from the Bordeaux region in France.
Sauternes are usually sweet, with tropical notes on the nose and palate. It is usually in light straw to deep gold color and tends to be more viscous because of its high residual sugar.
It is one of the sweet whites, and its tasting notes are truly a dessert wine.
The grapes used for this wine have been affected by noble rot, which adds sweetness and complexity to the grape juice.
It is more than just a desert because it pairs well with Asian cuisines [3].
Moscato & Moscatel Dessert Wine
Moscato is a sweet Italian wine known for its fruity notes.
It is made from Muscat white wine grapes, and unlike other dessert wines, Moscato has low alcohol content.
The most widely available type of Moscato is the Moscato d’Asti, a semi-sparkling wine known for its light body, perfume-like aroma, and dazzling fruit-forward taste profile[4].
The low ABV of Moscato and Moscatel Dessert wine makes it easier to drink than red wine or dry wine.
It is perfect for casual sipping or a brunch-time spritzer that will not derail your day.
Read: Moscato vs Prosecco
Riesling
Riesling ranges from sweet and dry wines and has a nice combination of acidity and sweetness.
They are known for their mineral and fruity flavors, like apricots and apples.
“Anyone fortunate enough to have drunk great German riesling knows that it can be the finest white wine variety of all,” – Sebastian Payne, Master of Wine
These dessert wines usually come from Germany, France, New York, Oregon, Australia, and Washington State.
Riesling may have an intense aroma of fruits, but you’ll often smell things like jasmine, honeycomb, or lime peel.
It is sweet, but it has noticeable acidity similar to lemonade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a good sweet white wine?
A good sweet white wine features sweet floral aromas and balanced alcohol and sugar content.
A good sweet white wine has a contrasting amount of bitter tannins and sour acids with a strong fruity note that is pleasing to the palate.
What is the best sweet white wine for beginners?
Moscato white wine is an excellent sweet white wine for beginners. It has a light flavor profile and bubby sparkle with low alcohol content, which is easy to drink and enjoy.
Is Moscato the sweetest white wine?
Yes, Moscato is the sweetest white wine. It is one of the desert wines with fizz, low acidity, and a sweet taste from Muscat grapes.
How do you pick sweet white wine?
To pick a sweet white wine, read the label and learn about the grape variety inside the bottle.
Late-harvest wine is usually sweeter. Take note that Moscato is sweeter than riesling and ice wines. Also, you should consider your pairings when picking a sweet white wine.
Which type of white wine is sweet?
Sweet white wines encompass a variety of options, but some common types include Moscato, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Chenin Blanc. These wines often exhibit fruity and floral notes, with residual sugar providing a sweet taste.
What brand of wine is the sweetest?
The sweetness of wine can vary, and individual preferences play a crucial role. Brands like Barefoot Cellars, Yellow Tail, and Cupcake Vineyards are known for producing sweet white wines, with offerings such as Barefoot Moscato, Yellow Tail Sweet White Roo, and Cupcake Vineyards’ Moscato standing out for their sweetness.
Is Sauvignon Blanc a sweet wine?
Generally, Sauvignon Blanc is considered a dry white wine. It is known for its crisp acidity, citrusy flavors, and herbal notes, making it a popular choice among those who prefer drier wines.
What is an example of a sweet wine?
An example of a sweet white wine is Moscato. Moscato wines are often sweet, with a pronounced fruity and floral character, making them a delightful choice for those who enjoy sweeter wine profiles.
Is there any sweet white wine?
Certainly, sweet white wines are abundant and offer a diverse range of flavors. Apart from Moscato, other sweet white wine options include late-harvest Riesling, Chenin Blanc, and some Gewürztraminers, providing a spectrum of sweetness levels to cater to different tastes.
What is a popular sweet wine?
Moscato is widely recognized as a popular sweet white wine. Its approachable sweetness, combined with fruity and floral notes, has contributed to its popularity among a broad audience of wine enthusiasts.
How do you know if wine is sweet?
The sweetness of wine is often indicated by its residual sugar content. Wines with higher residual sugar levels tend to be sweeter, and this information is sometimes provided on the wine label. Additionally, descriptions such as “sweet,” “off-dry,” or “dry” on the label can offer clues about the wine’s sweetness level.
Is Chardonnay a sweet wine?
Chardonnay wines can vary in sweetness, but in general, Chardonnay is considered a dry white wine. However, there are oaked and unoaked variations, with oaked Chardonnays often exhibiting a fuller body and potential buttery notes.
Is Chardonnay Dry or sweet?
Chardonnay is typically associated with dry white wine. Dry Chardonnays have minimal residual sugar, resulting in a crisper taste with flavors that showcase the grape and terroir, making them a popular choice for those who prefer drier wines.
Is Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc sweeter?
In comparison, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are both generally considered dry white wines. However, individual winemaking styles and specific wine regions can influence the sweetness levels of these wines. It’s advisable to check the label or seek recommendations to find specific Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc wines that match personal preferences for sweetness.
In Conclusion
Sweet white wines are easy to love, especially if you have a sweet tooth.
It is a getaway drink that is beginner friendly and holds a special place at the dining table as a treat or dessert.
Sweet whites like Inniskillin Niagara Peninsula Vidal Ice Wine, Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Peller Estates Signature Series Oak Aged Vidal Blanc are hard to pass up.
But if you want the best for your collection, a bottle of Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano is a must-have.
In the mouth, it is spicy and sweet with hints of floral and fruity taste that will surprise you with every sip.
References:
- https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/gruner-veltliner-wine-grape-variety
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/wine
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadvari/2019/12/25/sauternes-wine-not-just-for-dessert/
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/moscato-wine-information-3511261
