Layer Cake

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Fortified red from Portugal's Douro Valley — sweet, warming, and surprisingly versatile. Ruby and LBV are for everyday; Vintage and Tawny are for serious occasions. Pair with blue cheese, walnuts, or just a fire.

Works with Double Chocolate Layer Cake · Cappuccino Chocolate Layer Cake · Cranberry-glazed Orange Layer Cake +3 more Double Chocolate Layer Cake · Cappuccino Chocolate Layer Cake · Cranberry-glazed Orange Layer Cake · Sour Cream Layer Cake With Pecan Brittle · Chocolate Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting · Chocolate Crunch Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting

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 Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake +3 more Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake · Fresh Strawberry Layered Cake · Sour Cream Layer Cake With Pecan Brittle · Strawberries And Whipped Cream Mounded Between Walnut Coffee Cake Layer.

Sparkling · Light · Sweet

Asti's more refined sibling — gently frizzante, only 5-6% alcohol, all peach and orange blossom. The perfect summer dessert wine.

Works with Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake +2 more Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake · Fresh Strawberry Layered Cake · Strawberries And Whipped Cream Mounded Between Walnut Coffee Cake Layer.

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Port from a single declared year, aged in bottle for decades. Dense, structured, ageless; the pinnacle of fortified wine.

Works with Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake +2 more Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake · Fresh Strawberry Layered Cake · Strawberries And Whipped Cream Mounded Between Walnut Coffee Cake Layer.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

California's méthode-traditionnelle sparkling wines — Chardonnay/Pinot Noir-based, brioche-and-citrus, often grown in cool coastal regions. Champagne quality at friendlier prices.

Works with Double Chocolate Layer Cake · Cappuccino Chocolate Layer Cake · Cranberry-glazed Orange Layer Cake +1 more Double Chocolate Layer Cake · Cappuccino Chocolate Layer Cake · Cranberry-glazed Orange Layer Cake · Chocolate Crunch Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Port aged in cask for years, taking on nutty, caramel, dried-fruit character. The 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-year designations are the most reliable indicators of style.

Works with Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake +1 more Layer Cake · Orange Layer Cake' · Seven-layer Chocolate Cake · Strawberries And Whipped Cream Mounded Between Walnut Coffee Cake Layer.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Asti, Moscato d'Asti, or Brachetto — Italy's sweet, low-alcohol sparkling tradition. Peach, orange blossom, gentle fizz. The summer-dessert wine.

Works with Cranberry-glazed Orange Layer Cake · Sour Cream Layer Cake With Pecan Brittle · Chocolate Crunch Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting

Austria's late-harvested whites — Riesling or Grüner Veltliner, often with the laser acid that defines the country. Sweet, but never cloying.

Works with Meringue, Chocolate, And Kirsch Cream Layer Cake · Chocolate Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Spanish table wine, broadly — Tempranillo, Garnacha, or a regional blend. Sun-soaked, food-friendly, increasingly remarkable for the price.

Works with Meringue, Chocolate, And Kirsch Cream Layer Cake · Chocolate Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting

California or Pacific Northwest late-harvest white — usually Riesling or Gewürztraminer, picked overripe for concentrated sweetness. Honey, peach, ginger.

Red · Full · Dry

The benchmark for full-bodied red — structured, age-worthy, unapologetic. Black currant, graphite, and tobacco lead into firm tannins that demand protein on the plate. Decant young bottles; cellar the serious ones.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Méthode champenoise from the most chalk-rich corner of France — fine bubbles, brioche, lemon zest, and a finish that goes on for half a minute. The wine for anything fried, salty, or special.