Sweet wines
The UK produces a larger array of sweet wines than you may think. From traditional method demi-sec sparklers to luscious stickies, there are dessert wines aplenty.
Ambriel in West Sussex makes a demi-sec from Pinot Noir grapes called English Reserve. With a dosage of 32g/l, the sweet sparkler is the perfect toast with wedding cake, according to the producer. Last year, Nyetimber also relaunched its demi-sec under the new name: Cuvee Chérie. With a dosage of 38g/l, Nyetimber’s dessert sparkler is made from 100% Chardonnay.
If still sweets are more your bag, there are an assortment of choices available. Hampshire’s Hattingley Valley makes a dessert wine from Bacchus called Entice. With an ABV of 10%, the wine is made from grapes that have been frozen after picking and then pressed for 72 hours.
Also made in this way is Nottinghamshire-based Eglantine’s North Star, which is made only in years where the grapes achieve optimum ripeness.
Denbies in Surrey, however, makes sweet wine from botrytised Ortega grapes.
