THE OUTCOMES
SWEETNESS
How Sweet Does a Wine Taste?
Not all wines contain the same amount of sugar. During fermentation, yeast converts the grape's natural sugars into alcohol. If all the sugar is converted, the wine is dry. If some natural sugar remains, the wine tastes sweeter.
Many people describe a fruity wine as "sweet," even when it contains almost no sugar, ripe fruit flavours can create the impression of sweetness on their own.
Sweetness Scale
Bone Dry
Virtually no residual sugar. Clean, crisp and refreshing, letting acidity, minerality and structure shine.
Dry
Only a tiny amount of residual sugar, usually too little to notice. Where most premium table wines sit.
Off-Dry
A slight touch of sweetness that softens the palate without tasting overtly sweet. Often balanced by lively acidity.
Medium Sweet
Noticeably sweet while still retaining freshness. Common in some Rieslings, Chenin Blancs and dessert styles.
Sweet
Rich, luscious and intensely sweet. Often enjoyed with desserts, cheeses, or on their own as a special occasion wine.
"Is it sweet?"
"Is the sweetness in balance?"
Sweetness in Aurenloch
Sweetness is not a measure of quality. Some of the world's greatest wines are completely dry. Others are among the sweetest wines ever made.
A beautifully balanced sweet wine can be just as elegant and complex as a beautifully balanced dry wine. Sweetness is simply another tool for creating style one of the many outcomes shaped by nature and the choices of the winemaker.