Lovers of sweet sparkling wines know: every sip is a small celebration. With their persuasive aromas, enveloping taste and lively, fragrant perlage, these wines turn every moment into a special occasion. Perfect in combination with a dessert for an unforgettable gastronomic experience or for a toast in company, sweet sparkling wines know how to surprise and conquer with their lightness and versatility. Here is a guide to these products, to understand when a sparkling wine is sweet or dry, which are the best labels and the most appropriate gastronomic pairings!

Question of dosage: types of sweet and non-sweet sparkling wines compared

Although at first glance the world of sparkling wines might seem less complex than that of still wines, it actually presents a complexity that should not be underestimated. Not only do the stages involved in sparkling wine production require special attention to detail - especially in the case of Champagne and Metodo Classico - but each sparkling wine has specific characteristics that complicate the differentiation between types.

The most relevant one for those who find themselves choosing a sparkling wine for a gift or for a dinner party is dosage, i.e. an aspect that subdivides sparkling wines according to their degree of sweetness, based on the sugars added in the different stages of sparkling wine making (especially during the dosage stage, when after disgorging the bottle is filled with a mixture of wine and sugar).

Those who want a bottle to uncork and pair with a dessert - from fruit desserts to Christmas treats, from tarts to pastries - can ignore the categories Nature (also known as Dosage Zero or Pas Dosé), Extra Brut and Brut, as they indicate non-sweet wines (with a sugar content per litre of <3 g AND <12 g).

The difference between dry and sweet sparkling wine

Then there is another important differentiation to be taken into account, which still causes some confusion among wine lovers and which deserves a little further investigation: that between dry and sweet sparkling wines.

The products belonging to the first category cannot be defined as sweet wines in the strict sense of the term, but still have soft, mellow notes due to a fair amount of sugar. They are therefore a good choice for pairings between sweet and savoury, and for those who want to enjoy a fresh and slightly acidic, yet very aromatic product.

Specifically, dry sparkling wines can be subdivided into:

• Extra Dry: 12 - 17 g sugar per litre.
• Dry (or Sec): 18 - 32 g sugar per litre.
• Demi Sec: 33 - 50 g sugar per litre.

The characteristics of sweet sparkling wines become even more intense and persuasive when the sugar levels used for dosage increase. These wines, also known as abboccati or Doux, have a sugar level above 51 g per litre, which is inevitably reflected in their organoleptic characteristics, giving the senses an intense aromatic charge, usually with notes of ripe or dried fruit, hints of honey and a taste that perfectly balances the sweet and sour component.

Another difference concerns perlage, present as in all sparkling wines, but less evident and lively than in dry wines.

A wine for every occasion: the best pairings with sweet sparkling wines

In many cultures, food is not just nourishment, but a sharing occasion involving all the courses on a menu. Dessert is no less an occasion, an instant that brings a meal to a close and should be celebrated with a worthy wine.

The world of sweet sparkling wines offers the right labels, each to match a different recipe!

Fruit desserts and tarts - Bellavista Franciacorta Demi-Sec DOCG 'Nectar'

When, on the other hand, fruit desserts are on the table to close the menu - tarts, classic or modern cakes, pastries or jam cakes - there is a need for a wine that is as sweet as it is refreshing, capable of accompanying slightly acidic flavours in a balanced way, while also providing a slight sweet contrast.

The perfect candidate is a Bellavista Franciacorta Demi-Sec DOCG 'Nectar', a Lombardy masterpiece considered a rarity by fans of the genre, vinified from pure Chardonnay grapes.

Characterised by a deep straw yellow colour, tending to golden in the bottles subjected to ageing, it is noted above all for its particular effervescence, which creates a soft, white mousse of long persistence. On the nose, notes of honey, vanilla and pastry products emerge strongly, with touches of citrus fruits and flowers. Creamy on the palate, it offers the strong point of all great sweet sparkling wines: the perfect balance between sweetness and freshness.

Coffee or caramel dessert - Champagne Veuve Clicquot 'Rich' Demi-Sec

Finally, those who prefer the soft taste of pastries and the freshness of fruit to the biting, slightly bitter tones of coffee and caramel can count on the special bouquet of a Champagne Veuve Clicquot 'Rich' Demi-Sec.

The prized offspring of the famous méthode champenoise - made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and other reserve wines - this sweet version of the iconic French sparkling wine is a joy for the eyes and senses, with its precious golden hues (thanks to the soft pressing of the grapes) and rich organoleptic bouquet. Delicate floral scents arrive on the nose, enriched by citrus ones. In the mouth it confirms its sweetness, which lends itself particularly well to use in mixology, but also to pairing with the aforementioned sweets.

Christmas Sweets - Moscato Sweet Sparkling Wine

The rich aromatic range offered by Muscat grapes is the perfect starting point for those who wish to enjoy an excellent sweet sparkling wine for dessert. Indeed, this ancient variety of Greek origin presents the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, ideal for an end-of-meal tasting.

In a glass of Moscato Vino Spumante Dolce there is everything one could wish for in combination with traditional Christmas treats. Spiced cakes and Christmas logs, puddings and gingerbread biscuits go well with this Piedmontese wine, which offers diners a sweet but never cloying pampering. The elegance of its golden colour is the prelude to an unmissable sensory experience, which makes honey notes the absolute protagonists of the olfactory examination, while the palate can enjoy a suave and rich taste.

Now that sweet sparkling wines have no more secrets for you, discover the best bubbles in the Svinando catalogue!