Wine Sweetness Chart

wine sweetness chart

Wine is a complex and fascinating beverage, with many different varieties and flavors to explore. And one of the most important aspects of wine is its sweetness, which can have a significant impact on the overall taste and enjoyment of the wine.

So to help people better understand and appreciate the sweetness of wine, we have created the following wine sweetness chart for white, red, and sparkling wines for you!

Table of Contents

White Wine Sweetness Chart

white wine sweetness chart white wine

Dry White Wine

“Bone dry” and “dry” are terms used to describe the level of sweetness in white wines.

  • A bone dry white wine is a wine with no residual sugar.
  • And a dry white wine has a minimal amount of residual sugar. 

Both resulting in a crisp, refreshing taste with little to no sweetness.

Sweet White Wine

There are many different types of sweet white wines, and the sweetness level can vary depending on the winemaking process and grape variety used. And here are some examples of popular sweet white wines:

  1. Riesling: Riesling is a white grape variety that can be made into a range of wines from dry to sweet. And sweet Riesling is made all over the world (New and Old World) and has a rich, fruity flavor with hints of honey and apricot.

  2. Moscato: Moscato is a sweet, light-bodied white wine that is made from the Muscat grape variety. And it’s known for its floral aroma, fruity flavor, and low alcohol content.

  3. Sauternes: Sauternes is a sweet, full-bodied white wine that is made in the Sauternes region of France. And it’s made from botrytized grapes, which are grapes that have been infected with a fungus that concentrates their sugars and flavors.

  4. Ice Wine: Ice wine is a sweet white wine that is made from grapes that have been frozen on the vine. And this process concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a sweet, rich flavor.

Red Wine Sweetness Chart

red wine sweetness chart

Dry Red Wine

Dry red wine is a type of wine that has a minimal amount of residual sugar content, which means that it tastes less sweet than other types of red wine.

When wine is produced, yeast consumes the sugar in the grape juice and converts it into alcohol through the process of fermentation. And the amount of sugar that remains after the fermentation process is complete determines the wine’s sweetness level.

Sweet Red Wine

There are many different types of sweet red wines, and the sweetness level can vary depending on the winemaking process and grape variety used. And here are a few examples of popular sweet red wines:

  1. Port: Port is a fortified wine that comes from the Douro Valley in Portugal. It is a sweet, red wine that is made by adding brandy to stop the fermentation process, leaving more residual sugar in the wine.

  2. Lambrusco: Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine that is made in Italy. It is known for its fruity, sweet flavor and is often served chilled.

  3. Brachetto: Brachetto is a sweet red wine that is made from the Brachetto grape variety in Italy. It has a low alcohol content and is known for its sweet, fruity flavor.

Sparkling Wine Sweetness Chart

champagne sweetness scale fortified wine red wine red wine brut nature extra brut extra dry sparkling wine

The sweetness level of sparkling wines can vary from bone-dry to sweet. Here is a chart that shows the different sweetness levels of sparkling wines:

  1. Brut Nature/Brut Zero/Extra Brut: These terms all refer to the driest style of sparkling wine, with no added sugar. And they have a sugar content of 0-3 grams per liter (g/L), and are bone-dry.

  2. Brut: This is the most common style of sparkling wine, with a dry taste that is not too sweet. Brut wines have a sugar content of 0-12 g/L.

  3. Extra Dry/Extra Sec: Despite their names, Extra Dry and Extra Sec sparkling wines are actually slightly sweeter than Brut wines. And they have a sugar content of 12-17 g/L.

  4. Sec: Sec is the French term for “dry”, but Sec sparkling wines are actually slightly sweet. And they have a sugar content of 17-32 g/L.

  5. Demi-Sec: Demi-Sec means “half-dry” in French, and these sparkling wines are noticeably sweeter than Sec wines. Because they have a sugar content of 32-50 g/L.

  6. Doux/Sweet: Doux or Sweet sparkling wines are the sweetest style, with a sugar content of over 50 g/L.

Related Articles

More Posts

best lunch in napa

12 Best Lunch Spots In Napa

Best Lunch In Napa – Our 12 Favorite Spots! Lunch is a must when you’re out wine tasting! Whether you’re in the mood for a

Böen Pinot Noir

Böen Pinot Noir – WineO Mark Review

Böen Pinot Noir – WineO Mark Review Wine Stats Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir Vintage: 2021 ABV: 14.6% Wine Region: California Flavor Profile: Cherry, raspberry, blackberry,