You know you’ll be cleansing in a few weeks, so seasonal indulgences should come with no guilt attached. For a limited time, you can have your cake and dessert wine too. Just make sure that whatever you pair with dessert is at least as sweet. If your wine only has a bit of sugar, it may end up tasting tart, bitter or thin next to the sweetest of treats. Who wants that?
Warmer climes tend to boast the fullest and most lusciously sweet dessert wines. Australia’s Muscats and Tokays from the region of Rutherglen are among the most sensationally sticky and beg for toffee pudding. Equally sweet and concentrated, PX Sherry is made from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes. This is just the right medicine for Christmas fruitcake. And surely, the most beloved and intense dessert wine is Port. If you needed another reason to devour chocolate, this is it.
Late harvest wines are lighter on their feet. Grapes are left on vine longer than regular harvest to concentrate the sugars. While they vary in sweetness, they’re usually slightly easier on the sugar and are particularly delicious with fruit based desserts. Late harvests shouldn’t be confused with Icewine, our local specialty. Crafted from frozen grapes that are picked once temperatures fall well below freezing, Icewine is like drinking pure fruit syrup.
If sweet on sweet is just too much for you, don’t forgo dessert wine. Serve it with cheese instead. The salty versus sweet contrast is a spectacular taste sensation.
Are you ready for a sugar rush?
2012 Errazuriz, Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc • Chile • $12.99, BC Liquor Stores
A mouthful of candied citrus, dried peach, and honey balanced by vibrant acidity. Pair with a dessert that has a bit of spine like tangy lemon tart.
Alvear, Medium Dry • Montilla-Moriles DO, Spain • $17.99, BC Liquor Stores
This sherry-style wine falls into the not-too-sweet category. Tempting toasted hazelnuts, dried orange and hints of fig. I keep a bottle handy in anticipation of that tin of home baked goodies (shortbread and gingersnaps please) for the ultimate afternoon snack.
n/v Fonseca, Terra Prima Reserve Organic Port • Portugal • $27.49, BC Liquor Stores
Exuberant black cherry, cassis, and licorice notes on a lush silky smooth palate. It will absolutely stand up to whatever chocolate dessert you dream of. Or try with blue cheese.
Gonzales Byass, Noé Pedro Ximénez, • Sherry DO, Spain • $39.99 (375ml), BC Liquor Stores
Decadent and unctuous with intense flavours of sultanas, dates, prunes, and walnuts. A big gulp will help wash down Christmas cake but the ultimately way to enjoy this is poured over vanilla ice cream.
2007 Chateau Dereszla, 5 Puttonyos • Tokaji Aszú, Hungary • $48.95 (500ml), BC Liquor Stores
Lingering notes of orange marmalade, dried apricot, caramel, and coffee crisp. I’d happily sip this alongside Christmas pudding or an apricot tart.
Seppelt, DP 59 Rare Tokay • Rutherglen, Australia • $65 (500ml), private wine stores only
Rich and luscious with caramelized brown sugar and nuts, candied citrus zest, and coffee, it is definitely sweet enough it stand up to sticky toffee pudding.
2013 Tantalus, Riesling Icewine • Okanagan Valley, BC VQA • $70, winery direct
Amazing concentration of pure peach, honeyed apples, and pear kept in check by Riesling’s brilliant acidity. It’s the essence of the Okanagan Valley and dessert in a glass.
