The difference between red wine and sweet red wine 

A still red wine is dry and undergoes a unique production method of red vinification, in which the skins remain in contact with the must for a long time, for better extraction of the colour and aromas. Unlike dry red wines, red dessert wines undergo a different production method with a late harvest, i.e. the grapes are selected when they have already completed their maturation and sometimes they can even be overripe. Harvesting grapes out of season allows the amount of water in the grape to reduce and it acquires a higher concentration of sugars. These characteristics are favourable in the fermentation phase, when the yeasts convert the sugars into alcohol. That is why dessert wines are very sweet and have a higher ABV than dry wines. For the finest dessert wines, on the other hand, the production process is completely different as the grape is left to rot on the vine, producing noble rot. At this point, the grape is more porous, the water evaporates and there is a higher concentration of sweetness, acidity and aromas. Dessert wines are very often more aromatic and intense. 

Types of sweet dessert wines 

Italy has a wide range of grape varieties and production methods that allow for the creation of different types of sweet dessert wines. There are numerous Italian dessert wines and it is not always that easy to choose between the various options. The selection of sweet Italian wines includes passito wines, sweet still wines, liqueur wines, aromatic wines and sweet sparkling wines. 

What are the best red wines to pair with a dessert? 

When you think of dessert, you tend to always use the same pairing with a dry sparkling wine to accompany any dessert. Whereas in reality, a white or red dessert wine can turn the end of a meal into an unforgettable moment. For example, to accompany a chocolate dessert or a dry dessert like a sbrisolona (almond crumble), it is advisable to opt for a passito wine or a Recioto della Valpolicella. Recioto is a red dessert wine that is ruby red in colour with purplish reflections. Warm and velvety, its ideal pairing is also Christmas desserts such as pandoro Christmas cake, panettone, almond crumble, paste di mandorle (almond cookies), or other dry biscuits. 

Every dessert has its own sweet wine 

Dessert wines were designed to accompany a dessert but many types can also be used as meditation wines. The main rule when choosing a sweet dessert wine is that the dessert must not be sweeter than the wine selected. When you pair a dry wine with a dessert, you get a very bitter result in the mouth. Red passito wines are the perfect accompaniment for dry biscuits like cantucci. Millefeuille will pair wonderfully with a sweet Muffato wine. For egg-based desserts like crème caramel soufflé, a generous wine like Recioto is better. Meanwhile, when you are serving a selection of pastries, you could pair them with a sparkling wine like a Franciacorta or take a chance on a Champagne.