What are common sweet wine varieties?

Common sweet wine varieties include Moscato, Port, Sherry (certain types), Sauternes, Riesling (late harvest or dessert styles), Icewine, and Tokaji.

How do I identify a sweet wine in a crossword clue?

Clues for sweet wine often include terms like 'dessert wine,' 'fortified wine,' 'sticky wine,' or specific regions known for sweet wine production. The number of letters in the answer can also guide you.

Are all Rieslings sweet?

No, Riesling wines range from bone dry to intensely sweet. While it's known for its ability to produce excellent sweet wines, many popular Rieslings are dry or off-dry.

crossword clue sweet wine – All Crossword Answers

Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're stuck on the clue "sweet wine," you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of possible answers, sorted by letter count, along with helpful explanations to crack your puzzle.

Solutions for "crossword clue sweet wine" by Letter Count

4 Letters

PORT: A classic fortified sweet wine originating from Portugal, often served as a dessert wine.

ASTI: A sweet, often sparkling, white wine from the Piedmont region of Italy, typically made from Moscato Bianco grapes.

6 Letters

MALAGA: A traditional sweet, fortified wine from the Málaga region of Andalusia, Spain.

MUSCAT: A highly aromatic grape variety known for producing a wide range of wines, many of which are distinctively sweet and fruity.

SHERRY: While many types exist, some Sherry varieties, like Pedro Ximénez, are famously rich and sweet dessert wines from Spain.

7 Letters

MOSCATO: A popular, light-bodied Italian wine, often slightly effervescent and known for its delightful sweetness and floral notes.

ICEWINE: A very sweet dessert wine produced from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine, concentrating their sugars and flavors.

8 Letters

RIESLING: A versatile white grape that, while producing dry wines, is also renowned for its late-harvest and botrytized versions that result in intensely sweet and complex dessert wines.

9 Letters

SAUTERNES: A world-famous sweet white wine from the Sauternais region of Bordeaux, France, made from grapes affected by noble rot, giving it a unique honeyed complexity.

More About "sweet wine"

Sweet wines are a diverse category, encompassing everything from light, sparkling Moscato to rich, fortified Port and complex, botrytized Sauternes. They are typically enjoyed as dessert wines, complementing a wide range of sweets, cheeses, or simply savored on their own. The sweetness in wine can come from various sources: stopping fermentation early to retain natural grape sugars, fortifying with spirits, or concentrating sugars through methods like drying grapes (passito wines) or freezing them on the vine (icewine).

For crossword puzzles, "sweet wine" clues often refer to specific types or regions known for their sweet offerings. Clues might also hint at the wine's origin (e.g., "Portuguese sweet wine" for PORT) or its characteristic production method. Recognizing these common associations is key to quickly solving the puzzle.

Tips For Your Next Puzzle

Consider the Letter Count First: Always check the number of letters required for the answer. This immediately narrows down the possibilities for "sweet wine" and many other clues.
Think Fortified Wines: Many sweet wines are fortified, like Port, Sherry, and Madeira. If the clue hints at a stronger or dessert wine, these are often good candidates.
Regional Specialties: Some sweet wines are deeply tied to their region (e.g., Sauternes from Bordeaux, Asti from Piedmont). If the clue has a geographical hint, it's a strong indicator.
Check for Specific Grape Varieties: Certain grapes, like Muscat (Moscato), are inherently associated with sweeter styles. If the clue alludes to a grape, consider its typical profile.

For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a dessert wine and a sweet wine?

While often used interchangeably, 'dessert wine' specifically refers to wines typically served with dessert. 'Sweet wine' is a broader category indicating any wine with a noticeable residual sugar level, regardless of when it's consumed.

Is Champagne considered a sweet wine?

Champagne can range from bone dry (Brut Nature) to very sweet (Doux). Most popular Champagnes are Brut (dry), but there are indeed sweet versions, which would fall under the 'sweet wine' category.

Why are some wines sweet?

Wines are sweet because not all the natural sugars from the grapes are fermented into alcohol. This can be achieved by stopping fermentation early (e.g., by chilling or adding sulfur), by adding spirits (fortification), by using overripe or dried grapes, or by noble rot which concentrates sugars.