What is a Sweet Red Wine?

What is a sweet red wine? For some odd reason, many new enthusiasts of the grape have begun searching for something to satisfy that sweet tooth...unfortunately, this perfect bottle may not exist.

If you have ever wandered into an alcohol shop and asked a clerk: “what is a sweet red wine?” you were probably met with some type of bewilderment. This is solely due to the fact that up until about two years ago, connoisseurs of the grape would have nothing to do with an overly sticky bottle. If you are about to delve into the wonderful world of wines, but you are seeking only those that can be consumed without causing your mouth to pucker...you need a bit of a crash course in the fine art of tasting.

You see, wines were never meant to a replacement for dessert. Instead, they are complex liquids filled with all of the aromas that the grape took on during the growing process. The only reason why grape juice is sweet is because it is laden with lots of sugar. Don’t look for bottles that taste like juice. Instead, try and learn to appreciate the subtle flavours that go into each bottle. Soon enough, you will discover that those dry wines (the ones that make your tongue feel like sand paper) are perfect when they are matched with food (as originally intended).

Now that you know the answer to the original question (what is a sweet red wine?), you can skip over that whole sugary craving and start to explore some great bottles instead. If you wish to find a bottle that has a slightly sweeter taste, you’ll have to let go of those reds altogether. Try your luck at a bottle of Gewürztraminer or Riesling – two white wine types that tend to be slightly sweeter than most other bottles. When it comes to those ruby liquids, start by tasting some that are lighter than others. Then, slowly work your way into those that are deep, passionate, and full of earthy taste.

Soon enough, you will discover why so many people around the world are irritated at the thought of those that only go for sugary bottles. As soon as you taste your first sinfully rich red, you’ll forget all about that quest for a bottle that satisfies a sugar craving.

What is a sweet red wine? Something that really doesn’t exist – remember, the more you taste each bottle out there, the more appreciation you will have for all of the unique tastes that go into one single bottle.