Dessert wine is made in practically every country that produces wine. Within each country there are often several styles of dessert wine, some are fortified and some are not, some are still and some are sparkling. Although there are a multitude of types, there is one common thread in almost all dessert wines – the fermentation process was halted leaving residual sweetness within the wine enabling a higher level of alcohol and a sweet flavor.
Contrary to the name, dessert wines are not just for after dinner confections, many are best served as an aperitif (a dry sparkling wine or champagne), or with salty, rich and buttery dishes (Sauternes) or even simply served with dry fruits or nuts (Port). Typical dessert wines include Sherry, Tokaji Port, Muscat, Icewine and Sauternes among others.
