What are the wines for desserts? Complete guide to wine pairings

When it comes to desserts, a well-chosen wine pairing can elevate the dining experience to the next level. Whether it is a chocolate cake, a fruit tart or a traditional tiramisu, choosing the right wine is essential to enhance the flavors of the dessert.

But what are the ideal wines to accompany desserts? In this article we will explore the best wines for desserts, providing tips for perfect pairings.

What to consider when choosing wine for desserts?

Before we get into the details of the pairings, it is important to consider some basic principles for choosing the ideal wine to pair with desserts:

• Sweetness: The wine should be at least as sweet as the dessert it accompanies, to avoid it being bitter or too acidic.
• Aromas and structure: Fruity aromas, floral notes and good acidity help balance the sweetness and create a harmony of flavors.
• Sweet intensity: pair lighter wines with delicate desserts and more robust wines with richer desserts.

Best wines to pair with desserts

• MOSCATO D'ASTI

One of the most famous and popular sweet wines to accompany desserts is the Moscato d'Asti, a sparkling white wine originating in Piedmont. Characterized by a low alcohol content and notes of tropical fruit and white flowers, it is perfect for light desserts such as fruit tart, cream cakes and cookies.

• Recommended pairings:

- Fresh fruit tart
- Dry cookies
- Cream cakes

• PANTELLERIA RAISIN WINE

The Passito of Pantelleria is a sweet and intense wine, produced on the island of Pantelleria in Sicily. This wine is distinguished by its notes of dried apricot, figs and honey, and is perfect for desserts with dried fruit or rich, complex flavors. Thanks to its marked sweetness, it goes well with more robust desserts.

• Recommended pairings:

- Panettone
- Desserts with dried fruit
- Cheesecake

• VIN SANTO

Vin Santo, a Tuscan wine made from dried grapes, is celebrated for its complex and enveloping flavors. Its notes of walnuts, dried figs and spices make it ideal to accompany rustic desserts such as cantucci, but it also pairs perfectly with almond cakes and dried fruit desserts.

• Recommended pairings:

- Cantucci
- Almond cakes
- Rustic cookies

• RECIOT OF THE VALPOLICELLA 

Recioto della Valpolicella è a Red wine dessert originating in the Veneto region of Italy. With its structured body and flavors of cherry, plum, and spice, it is perfect for chocolate desserts, particularly intense desserts such as chocolate truffle or torta caprese. The contrast between the sweetness of the wine and the intensity of the chocolate creates a sublime pairing.

• Recommended pairings:

- Chocolate cake
- Chocolate truffle
- Tiramisu

• BRACHETTO D'ACQUI 

Brachetto d'Acqui is a Red wine sparkling wine produced in Piedmont. Characterized by a light, fruity taste with notes of strawberry and rose, it is an ideal match for chocolate or red fruit desserts. Its effervescence perfectly balances the sweetness of desserts.

• Recommended pairings:

- Chocolate mousse
- Strawberry desserts
- Cherry Cakes

• MALVASIA OF LIPARI

Malvasia delle Lipari is a sweet and aromatic wine produced in the Aeolian Islands. With its notes of apricot, honey and spices, it is an enveloping wine that pairs perfectly with dried fruit or chocolate desserts. It is also excellent with typical Sicilian desserts such as cassata.

• Recommended pairings:

- Sicilian cassata
- Desserts with dried fruit
- Dark chocolate cake

Final tips on wine and dessert pairings

When choosing wine for your desserts, remember. the key is to find a balance between sweetness and intensity. Avoid pairing wines that are too dry with very sweet desserts, as they may turn out bitter. When in doubt, opt for a sweet wine with good acidity to help balance the overall flavor of the dessert.

Experimenting with new pairings can be fun and surprising, so don't hesitate to try different sweet wines to find the one that best suits your tastes and those of your guests.