Dessert Wine

[cmwayne68]

Does anyone know the type and/or brand of a white dessert wine that is sold at a wine cart in EPCOT near Paris? It was very sweet and a heavier consistency.

 

[amw5g]

I don't to be honest, but my guesses would be:
An Alsatian reisling or gewurtraminer. The former is sweeter while the latter is spicier, but both tend to be sweeter than standard wines. A late harvest would indicate an even sweeter wine. None of these would really be dessert wines, but could certainly be served as such.

Could also be a muscat, although I'm not sure that this would be typical of France. 'Vin de glaciere' (ice wine) would be the proper name.

Sorry I don't know, but hopefully these will jog someone's memory.

-Andrew

 

[Rhonda]

It may be an ice wine. It's only made in France and near Niagara Falls. Those are the only 2 places that get the perfect weather for harvesting the grapes at the right temperature to make ice wine. It's delicious, sounds like what you were describing! It's also pretty expensive. A little tiny bottle (1/2 bottle?) runs about $65 here in the local liquor stores.

 

[barbeml]

It might have been sauternes--it is sweet and warm on the tongue, goes very well with cheese.

 

[amw5g]

Ah yes, Sauternes! That's most likely it.

As for the notion that ice wines come from just France or the Niagra Valley, I believe the women who run the Germany pavillion (and call it eiswein) will beg to differ with you on that point. In fact, ice wines originated in Germany, where it is still under production. Add Austria to the list of producers. It does not come from France, however (at least not in any notable quantities).

If you can get your hands on some Inniskillin (Canadian) at a decent price, I strongly urge you to do so!


-Andrew

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

The reislings from France are Alsatian and dry, not sweet like the German reislings.

Sauterne is a traditional French dessert wine. Lovely, and can be quite expensive.

A second voice to add to amw5g. Eiswein does indeed come from Germany and Austria. The cold weather is a critical factor in the production of this wine.

You can sample eiswien at the German pavillion. Last I knew, the 2 oz. sample was $10.

 

[MHopkins2]

I just had that wine last week! I've been wracking my brain, and the best I can do is that I think it starts with a "b" - does that help anyone??? Also, the bottle is not standard wine-bottle shaped, it's wider at the base kind of like a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream (although not that big). The label was pretty with flowers and scrolly leaves and such. (I've had riesling, gewurstraminer, and eiswein before, and it wasn't any of those - it was something I'd never heard of but it was GOOD!)

 

[kjohn20043]

Could it Muscat de Beaumes de Venice(sp?) I have had that at the kiosk before. It is very sweet and heavy like you siad. It is not that common that I know of. I had it in Beaumes de Venice France many years ago and fell in love with it.