List of Sweet Red Wines

What are the most common names on a list of sweet red wines?

When you find the types of wine that you enjoy, of course you want to keep on exploring that specific taste and even check wine reviews for more to learn more about the wine. That's why so many people drink sweet red wine once and then end up looking for an entire list of sweet red wines. The great news is that there are tons of options ranging from a semi sweet red wine to dessert wines that really pack strong flavors and a sweet punch.

Here's a look at a list of sweet reds that touch on a handful of the major varietals of red wine and most popular options. The more of them you try, the more you'll be able to pin down your specific tastes to see which one of the best wines work for you.

List of Sweet Red Wines

• Beaujolais: At the top of this list of sweet red wines is the famous Beaujolais. Beaujolais is usually a semi sweet red wine and can be paired excellently with many type of foods. Typically very light and smooth.


• Brachetto: Most common it Italy, this red is slightly sweet.


• Lambrusco: Also most common it Italy this red is slightly sweet. Stay away from cheap versions, this is a good example of getting what you pay for.


• Tokaji: Mostly from Hungary it is usually a quality wine and loaded with flavors. Bottles can easily cost upwards from $80 and are usually very good. Some consider Tokaji the very best sweet red wines on the market.


• Port: Many people don't actually realize that port is really a type of wine. Among the three classes of port, if you're looking for the best sweet wine you should get a quality ruby. The oldest class of port, vintage, will be the least sweet.


• Dessert Wines: Most wine stores and websites will have separate areas for desert wines, which are going to be higher in alcohol and also extremely sweet. Typically they also come in smaller bottles and you'll accordingly want to pour smaller glass sizes. Also look for the term late harvest wine, which implies a sweet, desert-like quality, or alternatively the term ice wine.


• Muscat: Italians call the grape which is white, Muscato. The Muscat and Muscadelle grapes are wonderfully sweet. It is included on this list because they can be combined with other grapes for a semi sweet red wine, but can be made entirely by themselves into desert wines. Some of the most popular dessert wines stems from these grape varietals.


• Merlot: Merlots are not often associated with sweet red wine, but the grape itself is typically mild and low in tannins and therefore lends itself to sweet applications.


• White Zinfandel: Actually pink in color, this Zinfandel started as a slightly sweet red grape and the winemaker removes the skin leaving a pink color and the end result is sweet. This is much different from traditional Zinfandel, one of the dry red wine types.

Any grape white or red can stay on the vine long past the traditional harvest date. In effect this means any red grape variety could be made into a sweet red wine. However there are risks to letting the fruit stay on the vine longer. Mold and rot could occur after a rainstorm and birds could also threaten the fruit.

Any grape could be made into sweet wine?

Yes but...some varietals just taste better on the sweet side just as some taste better on the dry side. This page is my attempt to concentrate on the better more popular sweet reds.

A note about most pink wines: Many times these are from red grapes and the winemaker removes the skins early in the wine making process. The result is often a pink or rose colored wine. When referring to my list of sweet red wines I would call these pink wines a red because it started as a red grape. You are welcome to disagree but that is my opinion.

Tips for Choosing the Best Sweet Wine

When choosing between the above list of sweet red wines and all of your other options, you may want a few additional tips to help make a proper decision. First of all, read the labels and descriptions of the wine you're buying. Check the varietals and wine region to learn more about the types of red wine you are considering. Something described as particularly fruity will also likely be sweet. On the other hand, dry wines rarely are sweet, so avoid anything dry when looking for sweet red wine.

Of course, you don't have to limit your choices for the top sweet wine to only reds. There are many wonderful sweet whites, such as Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Viognier. As mentioned, be sure to check out the labels to help narrow down your selection and consider branching out to any of the above choices from the list of sweet red wines given.

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