Sweet wines are also called dessert wines and “stickies” (mainly in Australia). The sweetness of these luxurious wines is prevented from cloying by exceptionally high amount of acidity which keeps it vigorous and also long lasting. These sweet wines pair exceptionally well with fatty foods like foie gras, liver terrine and blue cheeses.
All sweet wines have a high sugar concentration, and whereas this might be achieved by adding sugar to the wine during or after fermentation, this is not the road that leads to a great wine. The high sugar concentration in the world's best sweet wines is achieved, broadly, by one of two methods. Firstly, dehydration; a reduction in grape water content, thereby increasing the ratio of sugar to water, thus producing very sweet berries. The principle methods of dehydration are as follows:
Secondly, in grapes where sugar content is normal, more of this sugar may be preserved in the wine, rather than converted to alcohol. This is achieved by killing the fermenting yeasts, thus arresting the fermentation, with the addition of spirit. Sweet wines produced by adding spirit to the fermenting must, a process known as mutage, are also commonly referred to as fortified wines, the reason being that the added spirit often results in higher alcohol levels, typically about 20% ABV, than would otherwise be achieved. It is an important process responsible for some excellent wines in a number of appellations around the Mediterranean, such as Banyuls and Rivesaltes (where they are known as vin doux naturel), although by far the most widely known and appreciated example is Port.
The Official 1855 Sauternes Classification
Superior First Growth (Premier Cru Supérieur)
First Growths (Premiers Crus)
Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)
Beerenauslese
Beerenauslese [BAY-ruhn-OWS-lay-zuh] (literal meaning: "selected harvest of berries") is a German language wine term for a dessert wine-style late harvest wine. Beerenauslese is a category in the Prädikatswein category of the Austrian and German wine classifications, and is a category above Auslese. Beerenauslese wines, often called "BA" for short, are usually made from grapes affected by noble rot, i.e. "botrytized" grapes.
Believe it or not, some wine producers go through their vineyards and select individual grapes to make wine from; Beerenauslese is the German term used to describe this, and means literally 'selected berries'. These grapes will be over-ripe, and usually affected by botrytis. This rather fanatical practice results in luscious, complex and very expensive sweet white wines. A similar selection is carried out by the better producers of botrytised wines in the Loire and Sauternes regions of France.
The grapes for Beerenauslese wines are those that have been individually picked. These wines are typically very sweet and rich, and most age very well. The finest Beerenauslese wines are generally considered to be made from the Riesling grape variety, as this retains significant acidity even with the extreme ripeness, which results in a wine where the sweetness is balanced and which has great longevity and which often will improve for decades. These wines are produced in very small quantities when the weather is suitable for the noble rot to form and only in vineyards with appropriate conditions, so they tend to be very expensive.
Any of several fine, sweet German wines made from superior, slightly overripe grapes that have been individually picked or cut from their bunches. Some Beerenausleses are made from grapes that have been infected with botrytis cinerea (noble rot). Because of their special selection and picking, these wines are very choice and expensive.
Trockenbeerenauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese (literal meaning: "selected harvest of dried berries") is a German language wine term for an intensely sweet dessert wine-style wine.
Trockenbeerenauslese is the highest category in the Prädikatswein category of the Austrian and German wine classifications. Trockenbeerenauslese wines, often called "TBA" for short, are made from individually selected grapes affected by noble rot, i.e. "botrytized" grapes.
This means that the grapes have been individually picked and are shrivelled with noble rot, often to the point of appearing like a raisin. They are therefore very sweet and have an intensely rich flavor, frequently with a lot of caramel and honey bouquet, rock fruits note such as apricot and distinctive aroma of the noble rot. The finest examples are made from the Riesling grape, as this retains plenty of acidity even at the extreme ripeness. Other grape varieties are also used, such as Scheurebe, Ortega, Welschriesling, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer and many are more prone to noble rot than Riesling since they ripen earlier.
Trockenbeerenauslese is a German wine term and type of dessert wine meaning "selected dried berries". Often abbreviated to TBA, it is one of the German wine classification levels in the QmP category.
This means that the grapes have been individually picked and are shrivelled with noble rot. They are therefore very sweet and rich, with a lot of the honeyed taste of the noble rot. The finest examples are made from the riesling grape, as this retains significant acidity even with the extreme ripeness, but other grape varieties can be used, and many are more prone to rot than riesling.
This category is roughly equivalent to selection de grains nobles in Alsace.
It is also used (since the 1960s) in Austria for the same type of wines.
These wines are rare and expensive due to the labor-intensive method of production, and the fact that very specific climatic conditions (which do not necessarily occur every year) are required to create botrytized grapes. Some of the best wines of this type are sold almost exclusively at the various German wine auctions. They are usually golden to deep golden in colour, sometimes even dark caramel. The body is viscous, very thick and concentrated, and arguably can be aged almost indefinitely due to the preservative powers of its high sugar content. Although TBA has very high residual sugar level, the finest specimens are far from being cloying due to high level of acidity.
Eiswein
Also referred to as “ice wine” in other countries such as Canada
Just as late harvest wines have their spiritual home in Alsace (you might argue it was Germany, but the Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese Prädikat categories have much more to to with the careful selection of grapes affected by Noble Rot than true vendange tardive character), so eiswein also has its birthplace. In this case it most certainly is Germany, and there are few other locations in the world that have seen any success with the production of sweet wines using this unique and fascinating method.
It is of no surprise that, as is the case with botrytis, there are a number of myths and legends surrounding how the eiswein method was developed. Doubtless it was a serendipitous discovery, but just when and where it occurred is open to debate. Some put the occurrence as recently as the late 19th Century, when a bitter winter took the winemakers of Franconia by surprise. No doubt in such a situation the Franconians would have thought that all was lost, but in the face of great financial loss the frozen grapes were harvested and the surprising results widely appreciated.
Eiswein could be considered as an extreme form of the late harvest method; the grapes are left to hang on the vine long after the usual moment of harvest. No doubt during this time they develop some of the passerillage character which results from a combination of dehydration and the creation of complex compounds following isolation from the vine as it enters its dormant winter phase. But these grapes see an essential extra step. Whereas late harvest wines are commonly brought in from the vineyard during October or November, grapes destined to make eiswein are left until winter fastens her icy grip on the vines. The winemakers watch as frost takes control of the vineyard, freezing what little vegetation remains, as well as the fruit. It is this freezing process that is absolutely essential, but the wait for a suitable frost can be a nail-biting one; losses to birds, rot, or a mild winter with no suitable frost all threaten the winemaker's livelihood.
The grapes are ultimately harvested in December, or even in the ensuing January. The temperature must be low, below -8ºC to ensure that the grapes are sufficiently frozen and that they remain so on the way to the winery. Consequently, harvesting may be performed at night, or in the early morning, to ensure optimal conditions. The grapes are collected in whole bunches, a considerably easier process than the selection of individual berries affected by the rather more capricious Noble Rot, as required for Trockenbeerenauslese. Once back in the winery, the frozen grapes are pressed and the sweet juice, rich in sugar, acids and aromatic compounds, is collected and fermented. The ice crystals are held in the press, thereby concentrating the juice obtained, increasing its must weight, and achieving the necessary concentration of natural grape sugars that is necessary for producing a great sweet wine.
The must weight required for a wine to achieve classification as eiswein varies from one region of Germany to another (as it does for most levels of the Prädikat, from Kabinett up to Auslese - the only exception is Trockenbeerenauslese). Eiswein must hit at least 110º Oechsle in several regions, including Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, but this figure climbs as high as 128º for Baden. Note that in all cases, however, this is less than that required for Trockenbeerenauslese, which must be at least 150º Oechsle. This disparity in required must weight, the comparative ease of production of eiswein when compared to Trockenbeerenauslese (botrytis is much less reliable and consistent than the winter weather), the ability to increase must weight by extraction of ice in the winery (Auslese and higher Prädikats must obviously come in from the vineyard at the appropriate must weight) and the high prices achieved by highly prized examples of eiswein has meant that many winemakers favour the eiswein route, often turning over less exciting vineyard plots to the production of this particular sweet wine. Astute buyers will not be swayed by labels bearing the word Eiswein; it is the name of the winemaker that is most important.
Tokaj
Tokaji (Hungarian: of Tokaj) is the name of the wines from the region of Tokaj-Hegyalja in Hungary. The name Tokaji (which is of Protected Designation of Origin) is used for labeling wines from this wine district. This region is noted for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region. Tokaj is mentioned in the official national anthem of Hungary. Tokaji is a Hungarikum, a term used to refer to uniquely Hungarian products, especially cuisine.
Since 2007, only authorized wine producers from the region are able to use the Tokaj brand name.
Only six grape varieties are officially approved for Tokaji wine production:
Furmint accounts for 60% of the area and is by far the most important grape in the production of Aszú wines. Hárslevelű stands for further 30%. Nevertheless, an impressive range of different types and styles of wines are produced in the region, ranging from dry whites to the Eszencia, the world's sweetest wine.[citation needed]
The area where Tokaji wine is traditionally grown is a small plateau, 457 m (1500 ft) above sea level, near the Carpathian Mountains. The soil is of volcanic origin, with high concentrations of iron and lime. The location of the region has a unique climate, beneficial to this particular viniculture, due to the protection of the nearby mountains. Winters are bitterly cold and windy; spring tends to be cool and dry, and summers are noticeably hot. Usually, autumn brings rain early on, followed by an extended Indian summer, allowing a very long ripening period. The Furmint grapes begin maturation with a thick skins, but as they ripen the skins become thinner, and transparent. This allows the sun to penetrate the grape and evaporate much of the liquid inside, producing a higher concentration of sugar. Other types of grapes mature to the point of bursting, however, unlike most other grapes, Furmint will grow a second skin which seals it from rot. This also has the effect of concentrating the grape's natural sugars. The grapes are left on the vine long enough to develop the "noble rot" (Botrytis cinerea) mold. Grapes than are harvested, sometimes as late as December (and in the case of true Eszencia, occasionally into January).
Coteaux du Layon
[koh-toh deu leh-YAWN] appellations located south of Angers along the river Layon in the anjou district of France's loire region. They produce only white wines (usually semisweet or sweet) from chenin blanc grapes. The villages appellation applies to seven villages-Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Chaume, Faye-d'Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon, Rouchefort-sur-Loire, Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné, and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay. All may append their own name to the label if their wines have at least 1 percent more alcohol than the standard appellation (a minimum of 12 percent versus 11 percent). The grapes in this area are subject to botrytis cinerea on occasion. When it strikes, the resulting wines can be rich, intensely sweet, and luscious. bonnezeaux ac and quarts de chaume ac are two small appellations located within the Coteaux du Layon area that are noted for their superb dessert wines.
Coteaux du Layon is the widest wine area of the Anjou region. Along the Layon river, the vines are protected by the hills in this lovely contryside.
Although wine makers produce a good semi-dry white wine, Coteaux du Layon is well known for the sweet white wine and for at least 15 centuries ! The most reputed of all is the sweet wine coming from Chaume.
The vine growers leave the grapes in their vines until they begin to over-ripe. They are then ready to harvest. It means that harvest take place in Coteaux du Layon later than other places in the Loire valley.