Natural sweet wines result from a variety of traditional methods of the wine-making process. These wines provide a whole range of tastes and flavours. The grape variety, terroir and methods used for harvesting and wine-making influence the aromas.

To obtain the desired level of sugar, the grapes are harvested late. In the warmer parts of the world, the mature grapes are dried on the vine or on racks or screens, to allow the sugars to concentrate. This is what’s done with the wines called Passito di Pantelleria from the south of Sicily, stuffed with sunshine and brimming with perfumes of orange and apricot jams…. Pure delight. The sauternes, those syrupy wines from the Bordeaux region, develop their aromas thanks to a small fungus, botrytis, which is given the name “noble rot”. The ports and banyuls are wines fortified by the addition of a neutral alcohol during fermentation, to retain the residual sugars.

Here, where it’s cold
Our climate brings with it some challenges for the grape maturation cycle. It is, however, an ally when it comes to ice wines. Just imagine, upon your return from a brisk fall day on the mountain, enjoying an ice wine with a cheesecake or fruit crumble. In my opinion, ice wines are perfectly suited to our terroir when made from an indigenous grape: Vidal. Birthed from the winter’s cold, Vidal has adapted well to our climate and has acquired, over the years, great respectability throughout the world of wines. The Domaine des Salamandres, in Hemmingford, grows grapes and pears on about 1.8 hectares of land. Its ice wine, which is 100 per cent Vidal, is absolutely delicious. It has a smooth, almost creamy texture with accents of figs, dates and hazelnuts. It’s easy to picture it with a tray of cheeses, nuts and foie gras.

Another regional treat, this time from the Ripon area in the Outaouais: a fortified raspberry “wine”. Four varieties of raspberries are macerated and the resulting liquid then spends a short time in oak barrels. Pairs well with chocolate or vanilla desserts.

Domaine des Salamandres, vin de glace,  2015, # 11343607,  $33,55 (200ml)
Domaine du Mont-Vezeau, Eolia, 2014, # 12645471,  $24,70 (210ml)