For many wine lovers, the concept of “sweetness” can be confusing. Often, what tastes sweet might not be as sugary as it seems. Conversely, what seems “dry” could carry a touch of sweetness. 

In wine, sweetness is measured typically by residual sugar (RS), the natural grape sugars that remain after fermentation. But our perception of sweetness can be influenced by more than sugar alone. Acidity, alcohol, and, in the case of red wines, tannins can shape how we experience a wine’s taste.

According to British author and wine scientist Jamie Goode, PhD, in The Science of Wine From Vine to Glass, a wine’s sweetness is a combination of three factors: its sugar as sensed on the tongue; the smell and taste of ripe fruitiness; and the natural sweetness of alcohol.

Great sweet wines seek the perfect balance of sugar and acidity. While the sugar provides richness and depth, acidity brings vibrancy and lift. This prevents the wine from feeling overly heavy or cloying. Goode highlights this balance in sweeter wines. “The great sweet wines of the world have very high sugar levels as well as high acidity,” he says. 

Plenty of grape varieties have the versatility to make both lusciously sweet and refreshingly dry wines. These grapes provide some of the world’s most iconic wines in both styles, so you can enjoy every delicious side they have to offer.

Taste test: Five versatile grapes for sweet and dry wines

For a fun tasting experiment, pair each grape’s dry and sweet version with a matching food. You’ll see quickly how sugar and acidity play with your taste buds. It highlights how winemakers use these grapes to create vastly different styles that work with other foods and moods.

Chenin Blanc

This grape is grown widely in the Loire Valley of France, where it’s celebrated for its versatility. Here, Chenin Blanc ranges from the dry, minerally wines of Savennières to the lushly sweet, late-harvest wines of Vouvray and Coteaux du Layon. Chenin has also found a home in the sunny climes of South Africa, where it takes on a rich, golden vibrancy in dry styles.

Dry Chenin Blanc example

In South Africa’s Western Cape, Chenin Blanc often expresses crisp, zesty citrus and mineral notes.

Try: 2021 Beaumont Family Wines Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc, $50

Sweet Chenin Blanc example

In Vouvray’s Moelleux style or Coteaux du Layon, Chenin Blanc reaches lush sweetness with honeyed flavors and stone fruit notes.

Try: 2018 Domaine Huet Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, Vouvray, $45

Riesling

A beloved grape with roots in Germany, Riesling is known for its intense acidity and vibrant aromatics, ideal for both bone-dry and sweet expressions. The Mosel Valley is famous for both styles. In neighboring Alsace, France, Rieslings take on a richer, fuller profile, thanks to the region’s warmer growing environment and the protection of the Vosges Mountains, which create a dry, sunny microclimate. Alsatian Rieslings often showcase bold fruit flavors, a touch of spice, and a firm backbone of minerality.

Dry Riesling example

In Alsace, Rieslings are typically bone-dry and richer in profile when compared to their German counterparts. Thanks to the region’s warmer climate and the sheltering Vosges Mountains, Alsatian Rieslings, like 2021 Trimbach’s Riesling, showcase bold citrus and stone fruit flavors, a touch of spice, and a firm backbone of minerality.

Try: 2021 Trimbach Riesling, Alsace, $24

Sweet Riesling example

Mosel Rieslings, like Beerenauslese or Eiswein, are intensely sweet with bright acidity and flavors of apricot and honey.

Try: 2018 Dr. Loosen Estate Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel, $60

Furmint

In Hungary’s Tokaj region, Furmint is the star grape. Celebrated for its versatility in both sweet and dry styles, the variety reflects the region’s rich soils and unique climate. Head winemaker Zoltán Kovács of Royal Tokaji has worked with Furmint for more than 26 years and emphasizes its exceptional ability to “express the terroir together with the acidity and mineral structure of the grape.” 

Botrytized grapes are those affected by botrytis cinerea, also known as “noble rot.” It’s a beneficial fungus that shrivels the grapes, which concentrates their sugars and flavors to produce intensely sweet, complex wines. 

In Tokaji, sweetness is often measured in “puttonyos,” which indicate the number of baskets of botrytized grapes, known as aszú berries, that were added to the base wine. The higher the puttonyos, the more richness and concentration in the wine. There are often complex layers of honey, dried apricot, orange peel, nuts, and spice, all balanced by the region’s characteristic high acidity.

This grape’s relatively thick skins and late-ripening tendencies make it “ideal for botrytizing and shriveling on the vine to better produce sweet wines,” says Kovács, “but it also has the ability to retain acidity and reflect the mineral character of the terroir.” That makes it suitable for dry expressions as well.

Dry Furmint example

Fresh, aromatic, and racy, Tokaj’s dry Furmint wines showcase flavors of green apple, pear, and hints of spice. These dry wines highlight Furmint’s acidity and minerality, which makes them crisp and lively on the palate.

Try: 2021 Royal Tokaji Úrágya Furmint, $45

Sweet Furmint example

Tokaji Aszú, a famous botrytized sweet wine made from Furmint, is revered for its intense, layered flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and nuts. This wine’s vibrant acidity balances rich sweetness to create a wine both complex and refreshing.

Try: 2017 Royal Tokaji Gold Label Aszú 6 puttonyos, $100

Muscat (Moscato)

Defined by its unmistakable floral and fruity aromas, Muscat is made in both dry and sweet styles around the world. Its popularity ranges from the lightly sparkling Moscato d’Asti to drier versions in Alsace.

Dry Muscat example

Dry Muscat from Alsace, France, showcases floral and grape-like notes, which makes it ideal to pair with light dishes.

Try: 2019 Albert Boxler Dry Muscat, $53

Sweet Muscat example

Italian Moscato d’Asti is sweet, slightly fizzy, and aromatic. It offers flavors of peach, apricot, and orange blossom.

Try: 2023 Ceretto Moscato D’Asti, $20

Gewürztraminer

With highly aromatic notes of floral, ginger, and spice, Gewürztraminer is a historic grape in both Alsace, France and Alto Adige, Italy, where it has been cultivated for centuries. 

“Our family has worked with Gewürztraminer for generations,” says Karoline Walch, of Alto Adige’s Elena Walch winery. Its prestigious vineyard Vigna Kastelaz has been a Gewürztraminer site for more than 90 years.

In Alto Adige, the most common style is dry, yet the variety’s high natural sugar content and thick skins allow for other styles that include sweet, appassimento (a winemaking method where dried grapes, rather than fresh ones, are fermented), and even botrytized wines. Walch uses this noble variety to produce a range of styles from sweet to dry. He emphasizes how it expresses itself differently in various terroirs. 

“It’s all about getting the right balance between the aromatics and the freshness,” says Walch. The high-elevation temperature fluctuations at Vigna Kastelaz allow for a balance between optimum maturity, a full spectrum of primary aromas, and beautiful acidity.

Dry Gewürztraminer example

Common in Alto Adige, dry Gewürztraminer shows intense tropical fruit aromas that are balanced by refreshing acidity. This style pairs well with spicy cuisine.

Try: 2022 Elena Walch Vigna Kastelaz Gewurztraminer, Alto Adige, $50

Sweet Gewürztraminer example

This is a slightly off-dry, floral wine that bursts with the elegance of white blossoms, wildflower honey, and chamomile tea, complemented by juicy notes of ripe plum and lychee. Despite its richness, it remains light and fresh, with vibrant acidity that carries through to a crisp finish.

Try: 2020 Weinbach Gewürztraminer, Les Treilles Du Loup, Alsace, $34