Spanish sweet wines, known as "vinos dulces" in Spanish, have a rich history dating back centuries. Spain is known for producing a variety of sweet wines, each with its unique characteristics, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques.
Spanish sweet wines continue to be popular domestically within Spain, offering a diverse range of flavours and styles for wine enthusiasts to explore. Unfortunately, sweet wine sales continue to decline in popularity globally. Spanish Sweet wines remaining often misunderstood and unfairly ignored. They really do deserve better support and mainstream enjoyment due to their character and uniqueness within the wine world. Many Spanish Sweet wines deserve to stand alongside some of the great wines of the world.
History: Sweet wine production in Spain can be traced back to ancient times, and as far back as the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans. Sweet wines gained immense popularity during the Middle Ages, becoming a cherished product among European nobility.
Today: The Majority of Vinos Dulces produced in Spain come from the following regions, although other DO's are now experimenting with sweet wines also:
- DO Málaga, which is exclusively dedicated to the production of Moscatel based sweet wines, and is the home of some of the world class Spanish sweet wines.
- DO Montilla-Moriles, which produces Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez based sweet wines.
- DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, famous for sweet sherries based on both Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel, and Vinos Generosos de Licor / Blended Sherries.
- DO Navarra, producing late harvest Moscatel.
- DO Ribeiro, producing late harvest Treixadura.
- DO Alicante, producing a naturally sweet wine from Moscatel grapes, and the famous Fondillón, which is made from overripe Monastrell grapes.
- DO Lanzarote in the Islas Canarias, producing Malvasia Volcanica based sweet and semi-sweet vinos dulces.
Grape Varieties: Several grape varieties are used in the production of Spanish sweet wines. Some of the most common ones include:
- Pedro Ximénez (PX): This white grape variety is the most widely used for producing sweet wines in Spain, particularly in the Montilla-Moriles region. PX grapes are sun-dried to concentrate sugars before fermentation, resulting in intensely sweet and rich wines. PX wines are incredibly sweet and viscous, with flavors of raisins, figs, and caramel. They are often aged in a solera system, which imparts complexity to the wine.
- Moscatel de Alejandria: Muscat grapes are used to produce sweet wines in various regions of Spain. Muscat wines are aromatic and floral, with a characteristic acidity that cuts through the sweetness to deliver a deliciously refreshing sweet wine. Moscatel de Alejandria wines are aromatic and floral, with notes of orange blossom, citrus, and spices.
- Monastrell: grapes are left to overripen, and then extensively aged using oxidative methods to produce a luscious wine that maintains its acidity with flavours of figs and raisins.
- Treixadura: While Treixadura grapes are primarily used for producing dry wines, they are also used to create sweet wines that are famous along the pilgrim trail to Santiago de Compostela. Intense aroma to passionfruit and honey.
- Garnacha: Garnacha grapes are used to produce sweet wines in regions like Catalonia and Aragón. These wines often have a balanced sweetness and fruity character.
- Malvasia: Malvasia is a white grape variety used for making sweet wines, especially in the Canary Islands. Malvasia wines can vary in sweetness and can be either still or sparkling.
Wine Styles: Spanish sweet wines come in various styles, each offering a unique tasting experience:
- Vinos Dulces Naturales: include Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel de Alejandria wines and are naturally sweet due to the grapes being overripe or sun dried to concentrate the sugars. The wines normally undergo fortification and extensive oxidative aging. Perfect as a desert wine.
- Vinos Generoso de Licor / Blended Sherries: Cream and Medium Sherry is a sweetened style of Sherry made by blending dry Oloroso Sherry with PX wine for Cream, and PX, Moscatel or RCGM for Medium. It is rich, smooth, and often served as a dessert wine.
- Malvasia wines: Malvasia wines can range from dry to sweet, with variations in sweetness levels depending on the winemaking process.
- Late Harvest Wines: Some Spanish winemakers produce late harvest sweet wines by allowing the grapes to ripen on the vine for an extended period. These wines are often rich and sweet, showcasing the natural sweetness of the grapes.
Food Pairings: Spanish sweet wines are often enjoyed as aperitifs, dessert wines, or paired with various dishes, including desserts, cheeses, and foie gras. They continue to be an integral part of Spanish winemaking tradition and are appreciated by the wine connoisseur not bounded by contemporary thinking.