SEMI-SWEET WHITE WINE: HOW IS IT MADE AT WHAT DOES IT PAIR WITH?
When summer comes around, semi-sweet wine is the order of the day for aperitifs and alfresco meals. Its sweetness with a slight bitter kick, just like in dry wines, make it the perfect candidate for these balmy afternoons. This article will give you the chance to pick up some interesting facts about this kind of wine.
HOW DO WE MAKE SEMI-SWEET WHITE WINE?
The wine-making process for semi-sweet wine is very similar to any other white wine. However, the main difference is in the fermentation process. When it comes to traditional white wine, fermentation continues until all of the sugars are used up, and when it comes to a semi-sweet white wine, fermentation is stopped in order to leave a certain quantity of sugar. We can use any variety of white grapes to make this kind of wine.
For example, our El Coto Semidulce, is made using Chardonnay grapes. These grapes are cold-pressed and protected from oxygen in the air using dry ice; and the must is fermented separately at a controlled temperature that never exceeds 16 °C.
Once we reach a balance between aromas and sugars, alcoholic fermentation is halted. That’s how we get that special sweetness and freshness when tasting this wine. It's worth mentioning that this sweetness never comes from added sugars.
HOW TO PAIR SEMI-SWEET WINES
When it comes to pairing food with any kind of wine, remember that you want to boost the flavour of both of them, not to mask one of them.
When it comes to semi-sweet wines, the amount of residual sugar that they contain will noticeably affect the choice of dish for pairing with them. We recommend pairing this type of wine with nuts, olives or any kind of pickled product, because a smooth wine like this creates a pleasant contrast with the sour and salty flavours of these kinds of snacks. El Coto Semidulce pairs perfectly with starters and aperitifs, as well as cheese boards, fruit and desserts.
A delicately sweet white wine also goes really well with light cheeses such as Burgos cheese, ricotta, mozzarella and feta. When it comes to desserts, ones that are cheese-, egg- or fruit-based, as well as flans and fruity ice-creams pair perfectly with this type of wine.
Did you know that there’s now a trend for pairing sushi with sparkling wines and semi-sweet wines? They help to cleanse the palate of the lingering fishy taste so that you can enjoy the next bite even more. We particularly recommend them for pairing this delicacy with white Chardonnay wines.
Now that you know how to correctly pair a semi-sweet white wine, you can get daring this summer with a unique flavour combination. If you're interested in finding out more about white wines and pairing, take a look at this article with recipes:
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