Dessert Wines of Noble Sweetness

What are Wines of Noble Sweetness or “Dessert Wines”?

Wines of noble sweetness, also known as dessert wines, are top-quality wines that winemakers cannot harvest in every vintage. They require exceptionally high ripeness of the grapes and therefore very high must weights.

Wines of noble sweetness clearly differ from lighter sweet wines due to their significantly greater density, intensity, and pronounced sweetness. Semi-sweet wines are another level lighter than sweet wines and also noticeably less sweet.

What do Wines of Noble Sweetness Taste Like?

Dessert wines of noble sweetness – whether red, white, or rosé – are characterised by their high density and intense sweetness. The flavours of the respective grape variety are especially full-bodied and remain present on the palate for a long time.

Exquisite Enjoyment with Wines of Noble Sweetness

Enjoy these dessert wines whenever you want to treat yourself to something truly special. They are excellent companions to rich desserts and sweet dishes, foie gras pâté, as well as flavorful and mature cheeses.

Grape Varieties for Wines of Noble Sweetness

Not all grape varieties are suitable for wines of noble sweetness. The vines must be capable of reaching the required high must weights. Varieties such as Mueller-Thurgau or Portugieser are rather not suitable for this purpose.

Early budburst promotes a long growing season and extended ripening period for the grapes. In addition to the grape variety, site conditions also play a decisive role in the development of these top-quality wines.

White Wine Grape Varieties

The selection of suitable grape varieties is considerably broader for white wines of noble sweetness than for rosé and red wines. For our white dessert wines, we favour grape varieties that combine high levels of ripeness with expressive flavours.

• Huxel—a very fruit-driven grape variety
• Siegerrebe—fruity and spicy with a fine Muscat note

Red Wine Grape Varieties

Rosé and red wines of noble sweetness are produced from red grapes. To achieve the high must weight required for a dessert wine, many factors must come together: early budburst, favourable weather conditions, and a very late, highly selective harvest of perfectly healthy grapes.

The berries must not develop botrytis, which is often desirable for white wines of noble sweetness. Instead, the grapes must dry on the vine in a raisin-like manner, concentrating sugar, extract, and aromatic compounds. Suitable varieties include:

• Moscato Rosa—spicy aromas with a delicate rose fragrance
• Regent—a deeply coloured variety with pronounced berry notes

Yields for these dessert wines are extremely low, and harvesting is highly selective and usually carried out by hand. Wines of noble sweetness therefore rank among the rarest and most labour-intensive qualities in viticulture.

Enjoying Wines of Noble Sweetness

Dessert wines are equally suitable as an apéritif for a high-quality menu or as a standalone intermediate course.

White Dessert Wines

With food, these very sweet wines pair not only—as their name suggests—with desserts, pastries, and sweet dishes. They are also excellent companions to rich pâtés and to savoury and mature cheeses.

Rosé Dessert Wines

Rosé wines of noble sweetness combine intense sweetness with fruity freshness and subtle spice. They are particularly well suited to fruit-based desserts, fine pastries, and as an engaging companion to cheese selections.

Red Dessert Wines

They pair wonderfully with rich, chocolate-based desserts such as tiramisu or mousse au chocolat, with pastries, fine chocolates, and matured cheeses.

Serving Temperature for Wines of Noble Sweetness

• White + Rosé Wines: well chilled to taste—cooling enhances fruit aromas and sweetness, creating a lively and refreshing impression
• Red Wines: Around 16–18 °C, and depending on preference and weather conditions, they may also be enjoyed slightly chilled

Simply try them and discover at which temperature you enjoy these wines most.

Storing Wines of Noble Sweetness

Thanks to their high concentration and natural sweetness, wines of noble sweetness have excellent ageing potential and can be stored for many years.

For ideal development, we use only high-quality natural corks for all wines of noble sweetness. Please store the bottles lying down so that the cork does not dry out. The wines should also be kept in a cool place at a constant temperature and protected from light.