From Brad:

We have 2 new wines coming soon labeled Joy.  They are a beerenauslese and an auslese from Mosel estates that had an overabundance of dessert wines in 2006.  They will be great values.  Some other wines in a similar style are:

Château de Fesles Bonnezeaux, from the Loire Valley of France made from Chenin Blanc and on the level of beerenauslese

Château de la Roulerie Coteaux du Layon also from the Loire and Chenin Blanc but about auslese level

Château de Chamboureau Clos du Papillon, another Loire Chenin Blanc from a tiny appellation and about spätlese level

Magnotta Ice wines from Canada – We have Vidal, Riesling and Cabernet Franc Ice Wines

Ask our Wine Consultant in the store near you for more suggestions.

Brad

From one of our Wine Consultants:

Hello!

We would be glad to offer you some suggestions! You should be able to find wines from nearly any wine-producing country with the residual sugars you prefer. Here are a few examples from around the globe, along with the grape variety. This is important since you prefer Riesling, which has high natural acidity, while other grapes used to make sweet wines don’t always have as much apparent acidity. The other important factor determining the taste of these wines is whether the grapes have been effected by Botritis….This happens in Germany, among other places, and imparts a special flavor in the wines….some say a flavor of grilled pineapple…..Sweet wines not affected with this mold (it is a mold, albeit a beneficial one) typically have more obvious pure fruit flavors, like Peach, Apricot etc…but will not have that certain flavor botrytis gives…….Here you go……

Bordeaux, France produces a sweet white called Sauternes, from a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by the noble-rot called Botritis (the top vintages are the ones with the most botrytis) Besides true Sauternes….there are other villages in Bordeaux doing the same thing, usually for a bit less $$$$ Look for Barsac, Cerons, Cadillac, Loupiac and St. Croix du Mont

Hungary has over 300 years of history producing a wine called Tokaji…..Botritis affected and made from a grape called Furmint.

Canada has a few wineries near the Niagara Penninsula producing the Canadien equivalent of German Eiswein. They call it Icewine. Naturally frozen grapes, usually either Riesling, Vidal or even Cab Franc, a red grape!

California offers plenty, but none are real icewines…some are botritised…….Bonny Doone actually freezes his grapes in a commercial freezer, then presses…..he calls them Vin de Glacier…and they are very tasty and inexpensive.

Spain has its Sherry, but  a less-well-known wine which you might try is called Malaga. ABC does carry one or two. I don’t believe there is botrytis here, but the main grape is PX (Pedro Ximinez) Historically important sweet wine!

Italy has a few…..Best know are the Vin Santo, made from dried grapes throughout Tuscany and other regions. Also look for either the white Recioto della Soave or the red Recioto della Valpolicella, made near Verona. Malvasia is big in the south, and the best known is the Malvasia della Lipari, from the island of Lipari between Sicily and the mainland.

Austria has hundreds, some world famous. Aloise Kracher is considered one of the top sweet wine producers in the world…ABC carried maybe one or two, Hopler is the producer. I believe the wine is a TBA, designed after the German Trockenbeerenauslese.

Australia has hundreds….They call them ‘stickies’ and ABC has a few, look for either the Nugan (more like a Sauternes) of for the Buller  (very old solera style, with age, oak and nuance)

France also is well known for a sweet white from the Rhone Valley. Look for the Muscat from the village of Beaumes-de-Venise.

Muscat is the grape, so the wine will be apricot in flavor. Southern France also holds a few others….Muscat de Frontignan and another called Rivesaltes.

Frances’ Loire Valley has a few, too….The best are Vouvray (careful, some are dry) from the Chenin Blanc grape…The top dessert wines are Bonnezeaux and Quarts-du-Chaumes.

This is a good start on some of the sweet wines….

We don’t carry any tropical fruit wines at this point.

Kind regards,

Shayne Hebert