There’s a common belief that all Missouri wines are sweet, but that’s far from the truth! While many people associate Missouri wines with sweetness, the reality is much more diverse. 

Missouri’s wine scene has grown tremendously, offering a wide range of styles from dry to sweet. One way to understand the sweetness level of a wine is by checking the labels on the back to see if they feature a sweetness scale which indicated where the wine falls on the spectrum. This scale helps you choose a wine that matches your taste preferences, whether you love a dry, crisp white or a fruity, sweet red. Missouri wineries have a wine for you! 

When talking about wine, residual sugar is a term you may hear. Residual sugar refers to the sugar that remains in the wine after fermentation. During this process yeast converts the sugars in grape juice into alcohol and carbon dioxide. However, not all the sugars are converted into alcohol, and the leftover sugar is what is referred to as residual sugar. The amount of leftover sugar in the wine is what determines the sweetness level.

Sweet wines have a great opportunity when being paired with foods. Spicy food and sweet wines make a fantastic pair because the sweetness in the wine can balance out the heat from the spices. The harmony between sweet and spicy creates a delightful dining experience, allowing the flavors of both the food and wine to shine without one overpowering the other. Whenever you’re having something spicy, try pairing it with a sweet wine for the perfect match!

So, next time you’re exploring Missouri wines, don’t let the myth of sweetness limit your choices. Need help discovering what type of wine you like? Try our Palate Profile Tool! Dive into the different Missouri varietals and discover the amazing dry options available. Cheers to finding your perfect pour!