Sweet or semi-dry white wine?
Olivier - 09/25/2020
When selecting a white wineIt's not always easy to choose the right bottle if you don't have the necessary knowledge. However, your choice should be based not only on your tastes, but also on the accompaniment you choose. For a successful selection, don't hesitate to consult this guide, which will provide you with all the information you need for optimal tasting.
- Dry wines, such as red wine, generally contain less than 4g of sugar per liter. - A semi-dry wine has a sugar content of between 4 and 12 grams per liter. - Sweet wines, also known as vins demi-doux, have a sugar content of between 12 and 45 grams per liter. - The final category of wines is sweet wines, with a high sugar concentration of over 45 g/l.
As you can see, the amount of sugar can vary enormously from one white wine to another. But it's important not to focus solely on the sugar content, as you need to understand the balance that the winemaker wishes to bring to his wine. As a result, your selection should be based on freshness and the balance of different flavors in relation to sugar content. Now you can easily answer the question "What is a sweet white wine?
Don't forget that your semi-dry white wine should be served as chilled as possible, to bring out the acidity that goes so well with fatty foods. For all these reasons, wine should be served chilled to bring out the freshness immediately.
If you're serving a sweet dessert with fruit or caramel, or if you're going for a cheese platter with Roquefort cheese, choose a mellow white wine to bring the tastes together perfectly. To make sure you don't make any mistakes, opt for a Sauternes, Barsaca Côtes-de-Bergerac or a Haut-Montravel.
If you prefer Sauternes, it's the perfect accompaniment to foie gras. It's important to play with opposites so that the association works systematically. A Sauternes is ideal with passion fruit, crème brûlée or other tangy desserts. You can also pair it with strong cheeses such as Roquefort, Fourme d'Ambert or Gorgonzola.
Visit Jurançon is another emblematic member of the sweet white wine family. Its natural acidity is particularly appreciated, making it a tasty accompaniment even to relatively young white wines. It has a particularly interesting balance between sweetness and acidity. Although it is considered a little too heavy for an aperitif, it would be much better to use it when serving cheese. Thanks to its fruity aromas, it goes wonderfully well with ewe's milk tomme or blue-veined cheese.
A Coteaux du Layon is another wise choice of sweet white wine. Less sweet than its predecessor, it plays a more acidic card, which means it should be served chilled. With its various flavors of pear and fresh quince, it goes perfectly with fruity desserts, which can also be accompanied by a scoop of ice cream. Its composition also enables it to counterbalance the fat present in puff pastry with systematic finesse. Instead of feeling sick to your stomach with an overly fatty dish, Coteaux du Layon will help you avoid this effect.
Wine classification
In order not to misunderstand the different nuances between a sweet white wine and a syrupy wine, it is important to refer to the classification below:- Dry wines, such as red wine, generally contain less than 4g of sugar per liter. - A semi-dry wine has a sugar content of between 4 and 12 grams per liter. - Sweet wines, also known as vins demi-doux, have a sugar content of between 12 and 45 grams per liter. - The final category of wines is sweet wines, with a high sugar concentration of over 45 g/l.
As you can see, the amount of sugar can vary enormously from one white wine to another. But it's important not to focus solely on the sugar content, as you need to understand the balance that the winemaker wishes to bring to his wine. As a result, your selection should be based on freshness and the balance of different flavors in relation to 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 opt for white wine for an aperitif, it's important not to choose your bottle at random. If you do, you run the risk of mixing different flavors that don't match at all. If you're planning to serve foie gras as part of your aperitif, it's best to opt for a semi-dry white wine to prevent the sugar from altering the taste of the food. Don't hesitate to counterbalance the flavors of the aperitif with a good bottle of white wine, which will bring a fruity taste for a better match. That's why it's best to choose a semi-dry wine that you enjoy.Don't forget that your semi-dry white wine should be served as chilled as possible, to bring out the acidity that goes so well with fatty foods. For all these reasons, wine should be served chilled to bring out the freshness immediately.
How to choose between a sweet or semi-dry white wine?
If you're wondering which dishes go best with a sweet white wineOnce again, you need to play with flavours to suit your meal.If you're serving a sweet dessert with fruit or caramel, or if you're going for a cheese platter with Roquefort cheese, choose a mellow white wine to bring the tastes together perfectly. To make sure you don't make any mistakes, opt for a Sauternes, Barsaca Côtes-de-Bergerac or a Haut-Montravel.
If you prefer Sauternes, it's the perfect accompaniment to foie gras. It's important to play with opposites so that the association works systematically. A Sauternes is ideal with passion fruit, crème brûlée or other tangy desserts. You can also pair it with strong cheeses such as Roquefort, Fourme d'Ambert or Gorgonzola.
Visit Jurançon is another emblematic member of the sweet white wine family. Its natural acidity is particularly appreciated, making it a tasty accompaniment even to relatively young white wines. It has a particularly interesting balance between sweetness and acidity. Although it is considered a little too heavy for an aperitif, it would be much better to use it when serving cheese. Thanks to its fruity aromas, it goes wonderfully well with ewe's milk tomme or blue-veined cheese.
A Coteaux du Layon is another wise choice of sweet white wine. Less sweet than its predecessor, it plays a more acidic card, which means it should be served chilled. With its various flavors of pear and fresh quince, it goes perfectly with fruity desserts, which can also be accompanied by a scoop of ice cream. Its composition also enables it to counterbalance the fat present in puff pastry with systematic finesse. Instead of feeling sick to your stomach with an overly fatty dish, Coteaux du Layon will help you avoid this effect.