What is a typical characteristic of dessert wines?

Dessert wines are characterized by their high residual sugar content, which is a key factor distinguishing them from other types of wines. The elevated levels of sugar in dessert wines often come from various production techniques, such as late harvesting of grapes, allowing them to become very ripe and concentrated, or through the use of methods like freezing or drying grapes to enhance their sugar concentration.

This high residual sugar gives dessert wines their sweet taste and rich mouthfeel, making them a popular choice to pair with desserts or to enjoy on their own. The sweetness level in these wines is significant enough that it can offset other components like acidity, resulting in a balanced and enjoyable flavor profile.

In contrast, dessert wines are generally not characterized by high acidity levels, low sugar content, or a light body; those attributes are more commonly found in other wine styles. This clarity in characteristics helps further define what place dessert wines hold within the broader category of winemaking.