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The sweet wine is a veritable symphony in the bottle, seducing with its perfect balance of sweetness and freshness. This type of wine, often underestimated, finds its place in many tasting moments, whether as an aperitif, with dessert or simply to savor a moment of pleasure. But what is so special about sweet wine and, more specifically, about Fortified Wine (VDN)?
The sweet wine is a wine with a significantly higher sugar content than dry wines. This sugar may come from the grapes themselves, thanks to a late harvest when the berries are bursting with natural sugars, or it may be added using specific techniques during vinification.
Contrary to what you might think, a sweet wine is not necessarily heavy or nauseating. The best sweetwines manage to maintain a subtle balance between sugar, acidity and aroma to deliver a rich, harmonious taste experience.
There are several types of sweet wine, each with its own production method and taste identity. These include :
The sweet winesare often the result of late harvesting, when grapes are picked at an advanced stage of ripeness.
The sweet wines, which are even more concentrated in sugar, often obtained by over-ripening or adding residual sugars.
The vins doux naturelsA special category that we'll be discussing in greater detail.
What makes a sweet wine truly exceptional is balance. Sugar, if too dominant, can quickly make a wine nauseating. Conversely, a wine with too much acidity will lose all its roundness and charm. The winemaker's art lies in finding the right balance, by playing with different parameters: the time of harvest, the choice of grape varieties, the winemaking method and, of course, ageing.
A good sweet wine, and in particular a Fortified Wineoffers a sensation of fullness on the palate. Flavors unfold in layers, with a sweet attack balanced by a refreshing liveliness. The best examples are those where the sugar doesn't mask the aromas, but sublimates them.
Sweet wine lends itself to a multitude of gastronomic pairings. Contrary to popular belief, it is not limited to desserts.
A Fortified Winefor example, can magnify foie gras, creating a contrast between the richness of the dish and the sweetness of the wine. Blue-veined cheeses, such as Roquefort, also go wonderfully well with these wines, thanks to the harmony between the saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the wine.
Fruit-based desserts, especially those with citrus or exotic fruits, also find an ideal companion in sweet wines. For richer desserts, such as nut pie or chocolate cake, it's best to choose a more intense sweet wine, like a vin liquoreux.
Learn more about sweet wine :
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