Fruit Desserts

Dessert · Full · Sweet

Bordeaux's legendary sweet white — Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc hit by noble rot, then patiently fermented. Honey, apricot, candied citrus, and a finish that lasts a small eternity. Pair with foie gras, blue cheese, or a fruit tart.

Works with Fruit-based Desserts · Desserts With A Base Of Fruit

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Piedmont's sweet, low-alcohol sparkler from the Moscato grape — peach, honeysuckle, apricot. Made for dessert or for an afternoon on a hot day.

Sauternes's quieter neighbor — slightly leaner, more delicate noble-rot sweet whites at often half the price. Same Semillon-Sauvignon blend, more restraint.

Southern Rhône's classic fortified sweet white — Muscat à Petits Grains with peach, orange blossom, honey. Pair with fresh fruit or blue cheese.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Spain's traditional-method sparkling, made in Catalunya. Crisper and chalkier than Prosecco; remarkable value next to Champagne. Pair with jamón, tortilla, and grilled vegetables.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Champagne made from Chardonnay only — leaner, more lemony, more chalk-driven than blended Champagne. The aperitif Champagne.

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

White · Medium · Off-dry

The Loire's most versatile grape — bone-dry and steely from Savennières, honeyed and ageless from Vouvray. Naturally high acid keeps every style food-friendly.

The Loire's noble-rot Chenin Blanc — honey, quince, candied citrus, balanced by trademark Chenin acid. Ages magnificently; the sweet wine for those who find Sauternes cloying.

White · Medium · Dry

Lychee, rose petal, and a touch of ginger; medium-bodied, low-acid, and unmistakable. The wine for any cuisine where the spice cabinet did the heavy lifting.

Dessert · Medium · Sweet

Grapes frozen on the vine, pressed in winter for concentrated nectar. Honey, peach, ginger, and acid that keeps the sweetness from cloying. Sip cold, in small glasses, after dinner.

Sauternes's neighbor across the Garonne — botrytized Semillon-Sauvignon sweet whites at a fraction of Sauternes's price. Honey, apricot, gentle structure.