If you’re new to wine, the best way to get to know the beverage is to start out on a sweet note. Our palates are used to sweetness and since wine can be an acquired taste, you might find that sweet wines are the easiest to enjoy when you’re just getting started on your wine journey.

As your palate develops and gets used to the taste of wine, you might find yourself craving drier wines, but until then, here is a list of the best sweet wines for beginners.

By the way, the wines listed here are not bottom-shelf wines. These are sommelier-approved quality sweet wines that even I - a wine professional - would enjoy. Try to avoid the mass-produced brands you see almost everywhere (you know which ones I’m talking about). These often have added sugar and are not made with the same intentionality as the wines I’m sharing here.

This post also covers the difference between dry and sweet wines and how to know if a wine is dry or sweet (even before you purchase the bottle). You’ll want to save these tricks for your next trip to the wine store.

5 Best Sweet Wines for Beginners

Keep reading to find out the best sweet white, red, and sparkling wines for beginners, plus some sweet wine food pairing ideas for your next dinner party. I’ve also included specific bottles to taste to get you started on your wine journey.

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Dry vs. Sweet Wine

Let’s first cover some basic wine vocabulary to help you figure out what kind of wine you’re looking for.

“Dry” is the term we use to describe a wine that’s not sweet. This word is often misused to describe tannins, which cause the drying sensation you feel on your tongue, or the roof of your mouth, when drinking bold red wines.

Here’s the difference. If a wine is described as “dry”, you can assume it's not sweet. If a wine is described as “tannic”, this means it will have that intense drying sensation on the palate.

If a wine is dry, it will have less than 10 g/L of residual sugar. This amount of sugar is not easily detectable to our palates, therefore the wine will taste dry - not sweet - to us. For more on what it means for a wine to be dry and sugar content in wine, read this post.

Sweetness levels in wine

Rather than wine just being sweet or dry, there is actually a range of sweetness levels different wines can be categorized into. It’s important to pay attention to these distinctions because as you get to know your palate, you might find you like wines with just a hint of sweetness, or maybe you enjoy something more dessert-like.

The sweetness in wine is defined by its residual sugar content. During fermentation, yeast convert sugar into alcohol. Dry wines will go through the entire fermentation process until the yeast have converted most or all of the sugar into alcohol. What you’re left with is a dry wine with less than 10 g/L of residual sugar and about 12-14% ABV.

If at any time the fermentation is stopped, or more sugar is added at the end of the winemaking process, there will be a level of residual sugar remaining in the final wine; therefore, the wine will taste sweet.

The descriptors for sweetness levels in wine are as follows, in order from driest to sweetest:

Bone-Dry: less than 1 g/L residual sugar
Dry: 1-10 g/L residual sugar
Off-Dry: 10-35 g/L residual sugar
Sweet: 35-120 g/L residual sugar
Very Sweet: 120-220 g/L residual sugar

If you’re looking for a dessert-like, almost syrupy wine, go for something in the sweet or very sweet categories. And if you want something with just a touch of sweetness, off-dry wine might be your new favorite.

How to tell if a wine is sweet when tasting

Take a sip of the wine and swirl it around your mouth like mouthwash (gross, I know). Try to compare the sweetness level to other sweet beverages you’ve tasted and see which category the wine falls into. Is it sweet like fruit juice? Or maybe it’s just slightly sweet like an Arnold Palmer.

Sometimes a dry wine can taste sweet at first. If you can’t tell if a wine is sweet when tasting it, try plugging your nose and taking another sip. If the wine still tastes sweet, chances are it has some residual sugar there. If not, it’s probably just a dry wine that’s very fruit-forward (these fruity notes can sometimes trick your brain into thinking the wine is sweet).

Follow these 5 steps to taste the wine properly, evaluate its structure and flavors, and figure out what you like or dislike about it.

How to tell if a wine is sweet from the label

I’ll let you in on a few insider tips. Here are some tricks you can use to tell if a wine is sweet before you even purchase the bottle.

1. Check the alcohol percentage listed on the label.

As described above, fermentation is the process in which yeast convert sugar into alcohol. Therefore, if a wine finishes the process of fermentation, the final product will be a dry wine with about 12-14% alcohol content. You can think of sugar and alcohol content as being inversely related to each other.

If you see a wine with a lower alcohol content (think: 10% and below), chances are there is some residual sugar left and the wine will taste sweet. This is especially true for German riesling.

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2. Look out for these key terms that indicate the wine is sweet.

Sparkling wines are great for beginners because they include terms on the label that indicate the wine’s sweetness level. For sparkling wines, the below vocabulary on the label will tell you the wine is sweet before you make your purchase:

Extra Dry
Dry / Secco
Demi Sec
Doux

Note: Sparkling wine can be confusing because “dry” actually means the wine is sweet. Take note of this for your next trip to the wine store.

German wines are another exception to most in that they often indicate sweetness level on the label. If you’re seeking a slightly sweet (off-dry) German wine, look for the terms Feinherb or Halbtrocken on the bottle - these tell you the wine will be off-dry, or slightly sweet. Other cryptic terms - like Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein - will be listed on even sweeter wines.

Unfortunately, it’s not common for many wines to have an indication of sweetness level on their labels. Use the alcohol level trick described above for still wines, or save the below list of sweet wines to try next time you’re at the wine shop.

3. Look out for these key terms that indicate the wine is dry

You’ll want to avoid these if you’re looking for a sweet wine:

Brut Nature or Brut (sparkling wines)
Trocken (German wines)
Dry (still wines only - sometimes you can find this on the back label tasting notes)

If none of the above tricks work for you, just save this list of sweet and off-dry wines to taste, and be sure to take note of what you like or dislike about each one.

So, what type of wine is sweet?

Now that you have your bases covered with some vocabulary (and nifty tricks), let’s talk about some of the best sweet wines to taste.

Whether you’re just starting out on your wine journey, or you’ve tasted the rainbow and decided sweet wines are just your jam, here are some of the best wines for beginners, from off-dry to sweet and everything in between.

Best sweet white wines for beginners

1. Riesling

Now before I go off on a tangent about how riesling is my favorite, misunderstood grape, I have to emphasize the disclaimer that not all riesling is sweet. That’s right, some riesling is made in a completely dry style, and it’s delicious. Most people are surprised when I tell them this because riesling has a reputation of being the sweet wine.

Anywho, that’s not what this blog post is about. We’ll talk about dry Riesling at a later date.

Riesling is a great wine for beginners because it’s produced in a variety of styles. You can taste anything from dry to off-dry or syrupy sweet, and decide which version you like best from here. Morgan Winery, an organically farmed and family-owned estate, showcases this versatility with its Double L Riesling, which features both subtle sweetness and a bone-dry profile, achieved through foot stomping and cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks.

Riesling wines are aromatic with notes of white flowers, stone fruits, citrus, honey, and a distinct petrol aroma that develops with the wine’s age.

The Mosel Valley is home to the best Riesling (especially sweet ones) in the world. Explore this region, check for a lower alcohol percentage when looking for a sweet wine, and recognize these terms on the label, from driest to sweetest:

Spätlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese
Eiswein

If you want a Riesling with just a touch of sweetness, look for the terms Halbtrocken (“half-dry”) or Feinherb.

Riesling is also produced in many other wine regions outside of Germany, namely New York’s Finger Lakes, France’s Alsace, Australia, California, and Oregon.

Here are some of the best off-dry and sweet Rieslings to try:

Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett - $28.99 (off-dry)
Selbach Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett - $28.99 (off-dry)
Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese - $36.99 (sweet)
Selbach Oster Mosel Riesling Spatlese - $33.99 (sweet)

Speaking of the Mosel Valley, check out this post for four incredible wineries you have to visit if you find yourself in the area.

best sweet riesling wines — Sippin’ on sweet riesling while overlooking the Mosel Valley in Germany

2. Moscato d’Asti

Often colloquially referred to as “moscato”, this sweet Italian wine often gets a bad rap for being cheap or poorly made. I’m here to tell you that’s not always the case, and while the grape is grown in various wine regions, you can find some delicious expressions of moscato in northern Italy’s region of Asti.

Moscato d’Asti earned its DOCG classification (the top level for Italian wines) in 1993 and it’s situated in the region of Piedmont, which is also home to some of Italy’s top wines like Barolo and Barbaresco.

Moscato d’Asti is typically low in alcohol (around 5-6%) and boasts aromatic flavors of stone fruits, orange blossoms, citrus, and honey. It often has a slight effervescence, but not enough to call it a sparkling wine.

Here’s a list of some of the best bottles of Moscato d’Asti to try:

Best sweet red wines for beginners

3. Brachetto D’Acqui

Another underrated Italian gem, Brachetto D’Acqui is a semi-sparkling (frizzante) red wine from Italy’s region of Piedmont (actually right next to Asti). The touch of bubbles, balanced sweetness, and lower alcohol level (around 5-6% ABV) make this the perfect sweet wine for beginners (or really any level of wine enthusiast).

Brachetto D’Acqui earned DOCG status in 1996 and it’s made using the brachetto grape, which lends flavors of bright strawberry and rich blackberries.

PSA: This is the perfect wine for pairing with chocolate desserts.

Here are some Brachetto D’Acqui sweet red wines for beginners to try:

Best sweet sparkling wines for beginners

Sparkling wines are the easiest sweet wines to find for beginners because, unlike other styles of wine, their sweetness levels are clearly listed on the label.

The sweetness levels for sparkling wines are as follows, in order from driest to sweetest:

Brut Nature / Brut Zero: 0-3 g/L residual sugar
Extra Brut: 0-6 g/L residual sugar
Brut: 0-12 g/L residual sugar
Extra Dry: 12-17 g/L residual sugar
Dry / Secco: 17-32 g/L residual sugar
Demi Sec: 32-50 g/L residual sugar
Doux: 50+ g/L residual sugar

As mentioned, these terms will be on the label, so before you even purchase the bottle, you’ll know just how sweet the wine is going to be. If you’re looking for something extra sweet like dessert, look for wines in the demi sec or doux categories. And if you just want a touch of sweetness (similar to an off-dry still wine), look for extra dry or dry/secco sparkling wines.

Reminder: Keep in mind these terms can be confusing because, again, when it comes to sparkling wine, “dry” actually means sweet, which is the opposite of everything I just told you about still wines. It makes absolutely no sense why that is the case, but it is what it is.

4. Prosecco

Prosecco is a great sweet wine for beginners because it’s easy drinking, pairs well with food, and it's generally a great value.

Prosecco is a designated region in northern Italy’s Veneto, where glera grapes are used to make this sparkling white wine.

Contrary to champagne, prosecco gets its effervescence from use of the tank, or Charmat, method, which preserves the wine’s fruity and floral notes, and it can add a touch of creaminess to the wine. This method also makes wines with less finesse and shorter lasting bubbles, but they’re still delightfully refreshing. To learn more about how champagne is made using the traditional method, visit this post.

Prosecco is often fruity and floral, with notes of green apple, citrus, white flowers, and cream. It’s a great wine to serve as an aperitif or enjoy at brunch (hold the OJ on the good quality bottles).

Remember, not all Prosecco is sweet, so you’ll have to look for the sweetness level indicated on the label: dry or extra dry.

The best prosecco comes from the regions labeled with DOCG, but you can also find some great values in the DOC category.

Here are some sweet prosecco wines for beginners to try:

5. Lambrusco

Lambrusco is another Italian star (and if you’ve made it this far, you might now be realizing that four out of five of the wines listed in this post are from Italy. What can I say? Italy makes delicious quality sweet wines). It’s a sparkling red wine from the region of Emilia-Romagna.

Like prosecco, not all lambruscos are sweet, so pay attention to these labeling terms:

Secco: bone dry / dry
Amabile: off-dry / sweet
Dolce: very sweet

While it’s made in a range of styles, Lambrusco often has notes of bright red fruits like cherry, cranberry, and strawberry, and some floral notes, often with an undertone of Mediterranean herbs. It’s perfect for serving before a meal paired with cheeses and charcuterie, or after a meal with, well cheese again, or chocolate.

Here are some of the best sweet lambrusco sparkling red wines for beginners to try:

Sweet wine food pairings

While any of the sweet wines listed above can absolutely be enjoyed on their own, I love to experiment with food pairings and sweet wines are perfect for pairing with a variety of foods.

Spicy food and sweet wine pairings

You guessed it - sweet wines act as the perfect palate cleansers for spicy foods. The sweetness of the wine counterbalances the spiciness of the food, and it’s just a match made in heaven.

Here are some sweet wine and spicy food pairings to try:

Riesling + spicy curry dishes
Moscato d’Asti + Mussels Fra Diavolo
Prosecco + fried chicken sandwich with hot honey
Lambrusco + pizza with spicy Italian sausage
Brachetto d’Acqui + Penne Arrabbiata

sweet moscato food pairings — Moscato d’Asti paired with an arugula, peach, burrata, and prosciutto salad

Sweet food and sweet wine pairings

Another important food and wine pairing rule states that when pairing wine with sweet food like dessert, always make sure the wine is sweeter than the food. Sweetness in food makes wine taste more bitter and astringent. You can avoid this by pairing sweet wine with dessert or foods with a touch of sweetness.

Here are some sweet wine and sweet food pairings to try:

Riesling + pizza with pineapple (don’t hate me)
Moscato d’Asti + peach, prosciutto, burrata salad
Prosecco + cheesecake
Lambrusco + chocolate covered strawberries
Brachetto d’Acqui + chocolate lava cake

If these pairings don’t make you crave a sweet wine, I don’t know what will!

I hope this list of sweet wines gives you some direction next time you’re at the wine store, and who knows, maybe you’ll discover your new favorite style of wine. Let me know in the comments if you taste any of these sweet gems.

If you’d like to learn more about how to taste wine like a pro and get to know your palate on a deeper level, book an in-person or virtual wine tasting with me. And if you interested in trying new wines, you’d love my Wine Tasting Club - it’s like a book club, but for virtual wine tastings.

For more wines to try, visit this post which lists the 11 best wines for beginners. Or sign up for my free Weekly Wine Reviews for my unfiltered ratings, tasting notes, and food pairing suggestions for bottles you can grab on your next grocery run.

Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.

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