Sweet or semi-dry white wine?
Olivier - 25/09/2020
When selecting a white wineIt is not always easy to choose the right bottle if you do not have the necessary knowledge. However, your choice should be based not only on your tastes, but also on the food you have chosen to accompany it. For a successful selection, feel free to refer to this guide, which will provide you with all the information you need for an optimal tasting experience.
• Dry wines, such as red wine, generally contain less than 4 g of sugar per liter. • A semi-dry wine has a sugar content of between 4 and 12 grams of sugar per liter. • Sweet wines, also known as semi-sweet wines, have a sugar content of between 12 and 45 grams per liter. • The last category of wines are dessert wines or sweet wines with a high sugar concentration of more than 45 grams per liter.
As you can see, the amount of sugar can vary greatly from one white wine to another. But it is important not to focus solely on this content, as it is essential to understand the balance that the winemaker wishes to achieve in their wine. Therefore, your selection should be based on the freshness and balance of the different flavors in relation to the sugar content. Now you can easily answer the question, "What is a sweet white wine?"
Remember that your semi-dry white wine should be served as cool as possible to bring out its tangy flavor, which pairs beautifully with rich foods. For these reasons, the wine should be cold to bring out its freshness immediately.
If you are serving a sweet dessert made with fruit or caramel, or if you are opting for a cheese platter featuring Roquefort, choose a sweet white wine to ensure that the flavors pair perfectly. To avoid making a mistake, opt for a Sauternes, Barsac, a Bergerac hills or a Upper Montravel.
If you prefer Sauternes, it is the perfect accompaniment to foie gras. It is important to play on contrasts to ensure that the pairing works every time. A Sauternes is a wonderful accompaniment to passion fruit, crème brûlée, or other tart desserts. You can also pair it with strong cheeses such as Roquefort, Fourme d'Ambert, or Gorgonzola.
The Jurançon is another iconic wine in the sweet white wine family. Its natural acidity is particularly appreciated, and even a relatively young white wine can be a delicious tasting experience. This wine has a particularly interesting balance between sweetness and acidity. Although it is considered a little too heavy for an aperitif, it is much better suited to serving with cheese. Its fruity aromas make it a perfect accompaniment to sheep's milk tomme or blue cheese.
One Layon hillsides is another excellent choice for a sweet white wine. Less sweet than its predecessor, it has a more acidic flavor, which means it should be served chilled. With its various flavors of pear and fresh quince, it pairs perfectly with fruity desserts, which can also be accompanied by a scoop of ice cream. Its composition also allows it to counterbalance the fat in puff pastry with great finesse. Rather than feeling sick from a dish that is too fatty, Coteaux du Layon will prevent this effect.
The classification of wines
To avoid confusion between the different nuances of a sweet white wine and a dessert wine, it is important to refer to the classification below:• Dry wines, such as red wine, generally contain less than 4 g of sugar per liter. • A semi-dry wine has a sugar content of between 4 and 12 grams of sugar per liter. • Sweet wines, also known as semi-sweet wines, have a sugar content of between 12 and 45 grams per liter. • The last category of wines are dessert wines or sweet wines with a high sugar concentration of more than 45 grams per liter.
As you can see, the amount of sugar can vary greatly from one white wine to another. But it is important not to focus solely on this content, as it is essential to understand the balance that the winemaker wishes to achieve in their wine. Therefore, your selection should be based on the freshness and balance of the different flavors in relation to the sugar content. Now you can easily answer the question, "What is a sweet white wine?"
How to choose a white wine for an aperitif?
If you decide to serve white wine as an aperitif, it is important not to choose your bottle at random. You would then risk mixing different flavors that do not go together at all. If you plan to serve foie gras during your aperitif, it is best to choose a semi-dry white wine to prevent the sugar from altering the taste of the food. Don't hesitate to balance the flavors of the aperitif with a good bottle of white wine that will bring a fruity taste for a better match. That's why it's best to choose a semi-dry wine that you enjoy.Remember that your semi-dry white wine should be served as cool as possible to bring out its tangy flavor, which pairs beautifully with rich foods. For these reasons, the wine should be cold to bring out its freshness immediately.
How to choose between a sweet or semi-dry white wine?
If you're wondering which dishes go well with a sweet white wineOnce again, you need to play around with flavors depending on your meal.If you are serving a sweet dessert made with fruit or caramel, or if you are opting for a cheese platter featuring Roquefort, choose a sweet white wine to ensure that the flavors pair perfectly. To avoid making a mistake, opt for a Sauternes, Barsac, a Bergerac hills or a Upper Montravel.
If you prefer Sauternes, it is the perfect accompaniment to foie gras. It is important to play on contrasts to ensure that the pairing works every time. A Sauternes is a wonderful accompaniment to passion fruit, crème brûlée, or other tart desserts. You can also pair it with strong cheeses such as Roquefort, Fourme d'Ambert, or Gorgonzola.
The Jurançon is another iconic wine in the sweet white wine family. Its natural acidity is particularly appreciated, and even a relatively young white wine can be a delicious tasting experience. This wine has a particularly interesting balance between sweetness and acidity. Although it is considered a little too heavy for an aperitif, it is much better suited to serving with cheese. Its fruity aromas make it a perfect accompaniment to sheep's milk tomme or blue cheese.
One Layon hillsides is another excellent choice for a sweet white wine. Less sweet than its predecessor, it has a more acidic flavor, which means it should be served chilled. With its various flavors of pear and fresh quince, it pairs perfectly with fruity desserts, which can also be accompanied by a scoop of ice cream. Its composition also allows it to counterbalance the fat in puff pastry with great finesse. Rather than feeling sick from a dish that is too fatty, Coteaux du Layon will prevent this effect.
Choosing the right wine for the occasion
Which white wine can be sweet or semi-dry and pair perfectly with the culinary tasting you have planned from the outset? This choice will depend entirely on the different flavors you have planned for your menu. Once you have chosen your meal, the choice of white wine will come more naturally. Keeping in mind that flavors must always be balanced, your choice will lean toward a sweet white wine or to a half bottle of white wine dry will happen naturally. It is important to follow this rule in order to eliminate different flavors and avoid contributing to a traditional meal that will be too heavy. A bad pairing will truly ruin your meal. It is therefore important to follow the right guidelines from the outset, remembering that white wine is your best ally when serving white meat, poultry, or fish. Cheese and sweet desserts are no exception, so by following the various tips given above, you will be able to pair your white wine with your dishes.Loading...