Dessert wines are just what they sound like – wines with a sweet edge for after your meal. Dessert wines vary in style, and are available from all different parts of the globe. Whether your post-dinner preference is sweet and light or heavy and honeyed, Spec’s divine dessert wines will provide excellent endings.
Port wines are an excellent option for an after-dinner treat. Our tawny or ruby ports can satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth. 10yr or 20yr aged ports in these styles offer toasted, nutty aromas, accompanied by honey and nectar fruitiness on the palate.
Late harvest wines come in two specific types. The first style allows the fruit to hang a considerable longer time on the vine, which concentrates the sugars in the berries and translates into the final product. Type two is the beneficiary of a mold named botrytis cinerea – known in winemaker’s circles as noble rot. Noble rot occurs after a warm moist autumn season in which the mold collects on grape bunches. This increases the sugar content in the fruit but allows a balancing acidity to remain. The process also contributes a unique, aromatic flavor profile to this style.
A selection from Spec’s stock of sparkling wines and demi-sec champagnes would pair well with a simple fruit salad. The notable Italian sparkler Brachetto di Acqui has a beautiful rose color and notes of strawberries and blueberries and is the perfect pairing for a semi-sweet chocolate mousse or sampler of bittersweet chocolate options.
Let’s not forget about the popular varietal many have gravitated towards when selecting a celebratory wine – Moscato. Sweet and fruity on its own, Moscato really becomes something special when paired with something slightly acidic. With a twist of lemon in the glass or a scoop of your favorite sorbet, you will no longer need to ask for the dessert menu. Spec’s experts can help you discover a dessert wine that sings after supper.
Submitted by: Marcos Pena, Store #94 in El Paso, TX
