🍰 Dessert

Dessert wines must be as sweet as the dish or sweeter, or they'll taste sour.

Apple Pie

Baked apples, cinnamon, sugar, and pastry need sweetness plus acidity.

Best match $$$

Sweet Tokaji or Sauternes-style dessert wine

Its sweetness, acidity, and botrytis complexity can meet custard, fruit, honey, and blue-cheese richness while staying fresh.

Also great

Off-dry Riesling $$

Port-style fortified red $$$

See full pairing → Ask Scott

Baklava

Honey, nuts, and flaky pastry make a very sweet, rich dessert.

Best match $$

Amontillado or Oloroso Sherry

Its nutty oxidative depth links beautifully with mushrooms, roasted nuts, aged cheese, braises, and caramelized edges.

Also great

Sweet Tokaji or Sauternes-style dessert wine $$$

Off-dry Riesling $$

See full pairing → Ask Scott

Creme Brulee

Vanilla custard and burnt sugar need a wine sweeter than the dessert.

Best match $$

Amontillado or Oloroso Sherry

Its nutty oxidative depth links beautifully with mushrooms, roasted nuts, aged cheese, braises, and caramelized edges.

Also great

Sweet Tokaji or Sauternes-style dessert wine $$$

Port-style fortified red $$$

See full pairing → Ask Scott

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is bittersweet, tannic in texture, and intense.

Best match $$$

Port-style fortified red

Its sweetness, power, and dark-fruit depth stand up to blue cheese, chocolate, nuts, and intense dessert flavors.

Also great

Amontillado or Oloroso Sherry $$

Bold California Zinfandel $

See full pairing → Ask Scott

Fruit Tart

Fresh fruit, pastry, and custard combine sweetness with bright acidity.

Best match $$

Off-dry Riesling

Its gentle sweetness, low alcohol, and bright acidity cool spice, flatter salt, and refresh rich sauces.

Also great

Sweet Tokaji or Sauternes-style dessert wine $$$

Traditional-method sparkling wine $$$

See full pairing → Ask Scott

Panna Cotta

Set cream with vanilla or fruit sauce is soft, sweet, and delicate.

Best match $$$

Port-style fortified red

Its sweetness, power, and dark-fruit depth stand up to blue cheese, chocolate, nuts, and intense dessert flavors.

Also great

Sweet Tokaji or Sauternes-style dessert wine $$$

Traditional-method sparkling wine $$$

See full pairing → Ask Scott

Tiramisu

Coffee, cocoa, mascarpone, and sponge make a creamy bittersweet dessert.

Best match $$$

Sweet Tokaji or Sauternes-style dessert wine

Its sweetness, acidity, and botrytis complexity can meet custard, fruit, honey, and blue-cheese richness while staying fresh.

Also great

Port-style fortified red $$$

Off-dry Riesling $$

See full pairing → Ask Scott

Vanilla Ice Cream

Cold vanilla cream is simple, sweet, rich, and texture-driven.

Best match $$

Amontillado or Oloroso Sherry

Its nutty oxidative depth links beautifully with mushrooms, roasted nuts, aged cheese, braises, and caramelized edges.

Also great

Sweet Tokaji or Sauternes-style dessert wine $$$

Prosecco-style Charmat sparkling wine $

See full pairing → Ask Scott

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