Dessert Wine Is the New Scotch
Sommeliers are making a serious play for your after-dinner drink. Here are six styles to look for.
Dessert wines at Reynard in Brooklyn. Pricing is by the glass (3 oz.), gratuity included: Château de Léberon Vin Muté de Gascogne ($15), Vergano Chinato ($18), , Domaine Pêcheur Macvin blanc ($17), Château d’Arlay Macvin rouge ($16), Domaine de Souch Jurançon ($15).
Source: Reynard
Banking on the upswell of interest in digestifs such as amaro and sherry, a growing number of sommeliers in the U.S.—both in fine-dining and more casual restaurants—are hoping to tap into today’s taste for after-dinner drinks with dessert wines.
Looking beyond port, Madeira, and Sauternes, forward-thinking sommeliers are presenting a wider spectrum of dessert wines, from the golden to the lightly fizzy to the ruby red. The best of these wines have vibrant acidity to counterbalance the sugar, so they’re not overwhelmingly sweet, and the hope is that guests will trade in a boozy cocktail or a glass of whiskey for a softer, more nuanced landing after a meal.