Sweet Wine Types: Moscato, Riesling, Port, Mead & Where to Buy Them

Popular sweet wine types include Moscato, White Zinfandel, Riesling, Port, Sauternes, Sherry, and mead. Some are light and fruity, while others are rich enough to serve with dessert. Mead, also known as honey wine, can fall anywhere on that spectrum, from crisp and off-dry to bold, fruity, and decadently sweet.

As the seasons change, so do our preferences for beverages. Sweet wines continue to delight us with their rich, fruit-forward flavors regardless of the time of year.

Like mead and beer, wine comes with plenty of options. After all, variety is the spice of life, right?

While drinking wine might be the easy part, selecting the right bottle requires a little more attention.

With that in mind, consider this your free Sweet Wine 101 course. We’ll explain what sweet wine is, explore several popular types of sweet wine, and share where you can buy them.

What is Sweet Wine?

As the name suggests, sweet wine is wine with noticeable sweetness in the finished drink.

During fermentation, yeast converts natural sugars into alcohol. When some of that sugar remains after fermentation, it is called residual sugar. Generally, the more residual sugar a wine contains, the sweeter it tastes.

However, sugar is not the only thing that affects sweetness. Acidity, alcohol, fruit flavor, and serving temperature can all influence whether a wine tastes sweet or dry.

Many people also think about wine in terms of color. While white wines are often associated with sweeter styles, both red and white wines can be sweet or dry.

Sweet wine can include:

• Sweet white wine
• Sweet red wine
• Sweet rosé
• Sparkling sweet wine
• Fortified dessert wine
• Fruit wine
• Mead, or honey wine

Types of Sweet Wine (see sweet wine chart below!)

This list is not exhaustive, but it is a great starting point for anyone looking to explore sweet wine. There are many types of sweet red wine, sweet rosé, sweet white wine, dessert wine, and honey wine.

1. White Zinfandel

White Zinfandel is a popular sweet wine and, interestingly enough, is actually pink in color. It tends to be on the upper end of the “sweet” scale and comes packed with fruity flavors. Made with Zinfandel grapes, white Zinfandel is considered a rosé wine which was invented by Sutter Home Family Vineyards winemaker Bob Trinchero in 1948. 

What does White Zinfandel taste like?
Sweet, fruity, and refreshing, with red berry and watermelon flavors.

Where can you buy White Zinfandel?
White Zinfandel is widely available. Try a white zin here.

2. Moscato

Moscato comes in both red and white (plus, you might be familiar with the “Pink Moscato”). This is fruit-flavored to the max, with a flavors like sweet peach, orange blossom and nectarine. It also comes in three different “textures,” so to speak. That is, still (like most wines), slightly sparkling (or frizzante), and sparkling. If you’re one for carbonated alcoholic beverages, Moscato is an option. Moscato is made from the Muscat grapes, also used for raisins. 

What does Moscato taste like?
Light, floral, fruity, and sweet, often with peach and orange blossom notes.

Where can you buy Moscato?
Moscato is widely available. Grab one of the most popular bottles of Moscato here.

3. Riesling

Riesling is a sweet white wine native to Germany and Switzerland. It comes from the Riesling grape and often has undertones of honey flavor to it. This sweet wine is high in acidity and is seldom oaked. 

Sweet Riesling often has flavors of:

• Peach
• Apple
• Apricot
• Citrus
• Florals
• Honey

What does Riesling taste like?
Bright, fruity, and aromatic, with a balance of sweetness and acidity.

Where can you buy Riesling?
Riesling is commonly available. Nab this popular Riesling.

4. Sauternes

Sauternes is a French white wine from the Sauternais region of the Graves section in Bordeaux. It’s unique in that the grapes used to produce it are rare and partially “raisined”, which gives it a distinct flavor. Sauternes is an extra sweet dessert wine containing hints of fruit flavor. Peach, apricot and honey are common flavors .

What does Sauternes taste like?
Rich, silky, and intensely sweet, with honey and stone-fruit flavors.

Where can you buy Sauternes?
Sauternes is most often found at specialty wine shops, upscale liquor stores, and online wine retailers. Try this popular extra sweet popular dessert wine

5. Port

Port wine is a Portuguese fortified wine, that's typically sweet and high alcohol, produced in the Douro Valley of northen Portugal.

Unlike the other types of sweet wine we’ve discussed, port comes in tawny, ruby and white ports. Due to it’s richness (some would describe as “thick”), it’s also not something you would probably want to drink on a hot summer day. In fact, port is widely known as a “dessert” wine.

Port is high in alcohol content, typically 19%, and high residual (leftover) sugar. There are different types of Port including Tawny, Ruby and White Ports.

Ruby Port

Ruby Port is fruit-forward and youthful, with flavors such as blackberry, cherry, and plum.

Tawny Port

Tawny Port is aged longer and often has flavors of caramel, nuts, dried fruit, and spice.

White Port

White Port is made from white grapes and can range from dry to sweet.

What does Port taste like?
Rich and sweet, with flavors of dark fruit, caramel, chocolate, nuts, or dried fruit.

Where can you buy Port?
Port is widely available at wine shops, liquor stores, specialty retailers, and online. JJ Buckley has a great selection.

6. Mead (Also Known as Honey Wine)

So maybe we wanted to still say something about mead because, guess what? It’s considered a sweet wine!

We’ve discussed the mead-making process before, but mead is made from honey (no grapes or grains). Mead is gluten free and can be traditional or fermented with fruit or spices for fun sweet fruited wines. Mead can be sweet or dry. Just like wine, mead can be categorized as dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Learn more about all the types of mead.

What does mead taste like?
Mead can taste honey-forward, fruity, floral, spicy, crisp, rich, or dessert-like, depending on the style.

Where can you buy mead?
Mead can be purchased directly from meaderies, at select wine and liquor stores, and online from producers such as Batch Mead.

One of our award winning meads is made with passionfruit, tangerines and pomegranates and local wildflower honey.

What’s your go-to sweet wine? Something on our list or something else? Curious about trying mead?

Order our award winning meads 

7. Sherry

Sherry is a fortified wine from southern Spain.

One common misconception is that all Sherry is sweet. In reality, some styles are very dry, while others are among the sweetest wines available.

Popular sweet Sherry styles include:

• Pedro Ximénez
• Cream Sherry
• Moscatel Sherry

Sweet Sherry often has flavors of raisins, figs, caramel, molasses, nuts, and spice.

What does Sherry taste like?
Depending on the style, Sherry may taste nutty, rich, caramelized, fruity, or intensely sweet.

Where can you buy Sherry?
Sherry is available at wine shops, liquor stores, specialty retailers, and online like JJ Buckley. 

Chart info from Wine Folly, redesigned by Batch Mead

Sweet Wine FAQs

What is the sweetest type of wine?

The sweetest type of wine is Sherry - it has the highest amount of residual sugar. The sweetest type of non-grape wine, is mead (wine made from honey, not grapes).

What is the Perfect Wine List for sweet wine drinkers?

Here is what we recommend!

Are sweet wines always white?

No, sweet wines can be either white or red. Some examples of sweet red wines include Port and certain types of Zinfandel.

What wines are sweet and fruity?

There are several red and white wines that are sweet and have fruit characteristics, such as Port, Moscato, Riesling and of course, fruit wines. Wine can be made from any fruit or honey. There are several sweet hard ciders (apple wines) and honey wines available from Batch Mead.

What is mead a great choice for sweet wine for beginners?

Depending on the type of honey used and any additional ingredients added after fermentation, mead can offer a wide array of flavors, from fruity and floral to spicy and earthy. This makes it appealing to those who enjoy sweet wines but are looking for something a little different.

What type of wine is sweet and not dry?

White wines that are sweet and light are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Moscato. Sweet wines that are stronger are Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala and sack meads (honey wine).

Are there any low-sugar sweet wines?

Yes, there are sweet wines that have a lower sugar content, often referred to as off-dry wines. These wines, such as off-dry Riesling or Gewurztraminer, still offer a hint of sweetness but have less residual sugar than fully sweet wines.

How long do sweet wines last after opening?

The longevity of a sweet wine after opening largely depends on its sugar content and alcohol level. Most sweet wines can last for a week or two in the refrigerator if properly sealed, but fortified sweet wines like Port or Sherry can last several weeks or even months due to their higher alcohol content.

Where Can You Buy Sweet Wine Online in the U.S.?

Sweet wine is available from major online wine retailers, local delivery services, specialty shops, and directly from wineries and meaderies. The best place to buy depends on the style you’re looking for and whether alcohol shipping is available in your state.

Availability, pricing, and delivery eligibility vary by location, so enter your ZIP code before falling in love with a bottle.

Wine.com

Wine.com carries a broad selection of sweet wines, including Moscato, Riesling, Sauternes, Port, Sherry, ice wine, and other dessert wines. It is a useful option when you want to compare several sweet wine styles in one place.

Best for: Sauternes, dessert wine, Port, Sherry, Riesling, and harder-to-find bottles

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More has a dedicated sweet wine section featuring Moscato, sweet Riesling, sweet red wine, sparkling sweet wine, Port, and dessert wine. Depending on your location, you may be able to order for shipping, delivery, or store pickup.

Best for: Moscato, White Zinfandel, sweet Riesling, Port, and affordable everyday sweet wines

JJ Buckley Fine Wines

JJ Buckley is a strong option for premium and harder-to-find sweet wines. Its online selection includes dessert Riesling, Sauternes, and other collectible dessert wines, making it especially useful when you want something more distinctive than the bottles commonly found at a grocery store.

Best for: Sauternes, premium Riesling, vintage dessert wines, and special-occasion bottles

Buy Mead Directly From Batch Mead

Mead can be harder to find at a traditional grocery or wine store, and the selection may be limited. Buying directly from a meadery gives you access to more flavors, sweetness levels, seasonal releases, and tasting sets.

You can shop Batch Mead online for small-batch meads made with honey, real fruit, spices, and other ingredients. Options include sweet still meads, sparkling meads, fruit-forward releases, and curated collections for anyone trying mead for the first time.

Best for: Sweet mead, fruit mead, Viking-inspired mead, tasting sets, and mead gifts

Buy Directly From a Winery or Meadery

Many wineries and meaderies sell bottles directly through their websites. Buying from the producer can give you access to:

• Limited and seasonal releases
• Winery-exclusive bottles
• Mixed tasting sets
• Detailed sweetness and tasting notes
• Wine-club or mead-club releases

This is often the best option for specialty wines such as mead, ice wine, late-harvest wine, and small-production dessert wines.

Grocery and Local Alcohol Delivery

Sweet wines such as Moscato, White Zinfandel, Riesling, and Port are also commonly available through grocery stores, liquor stores, and local alcohol-delivery platforms. Search by your ZIP code to see which bottles are available nearby.

For specialty styles such as Sauternes, Tokaji, ice wine, or craft mead, an online wine retailer or the producer’s website will usually offer a better selection.