Sweet wine – please don’t call it pudding or dessert wine, isn’t necessarily drunk with sweet food. It is however, one of the most difficult terrains in the drinker’s world. The problem lies in a single word: money. There isn't a drinkable sweet equivalent of the cheap and cheerful reds or whites you buy for everyday meals.

As long as you’re prepared for the expense, treats await you in both Europe and the New World. Germany, France, Hungary and Austria are world leaders, while Australia, South Africa, the USA, and Canada are best in the New World. It’s hard to choose just one example, but if your budget is limited, I’d go for Ruppertsberger Riesling Eiswein 2001, from the Pfalz are of Germany. Eiswein means ice wine and describes a wine made from grapes left on the vine until winter and then harvested and pressed while they’re frozen. The result is like honeyed nectar. If the price seems steep, remember that comparable wines can cost £30, £50 or even £100!

Supplier stockist
Ruppertsberger Riesling Eiswein 2001
£14.99/50cl, Sainsbury’s