What Kinds of Sweet Red Wine Are There?

There are several kinds of sweet red wine, from soft, fruity South African reds to rich fortified and dessert wines. Some are softly sweet and fruity, while others are rich enough to enjoy after dinner. Knowing where each style sits on the sweetness scale makes it much easier to find one you'll enjoy.

7 Kinds of Sweet Red Wine to Try

Sweet red wines come in a surprisingly wide range of styles. If you’re exploring sweet red wine types, these seven styles are a useful place to start, from approachable natural sweet blends to traditional South African fortified wines and Italian favourites. 

1. Natural Sweet Red Blends

Natural sweet reds are one of the most familiar and accessible kinds of sweet red wine for anyone new to sweeter wines. They are typically soft, fruity and easy-drinking, with sweetness ranging from gently noticeable to more pronounced.

They can be made from a single grape variety or from a blend of grapes such as Shiraz, Merlot, Ruby Cabernet, Cinsaut and Cabernet Sauvignon. The final flavour depends on the grapes used, the winemaking process and the amount of residual sugar left in the wine.

Natural sweet red describes a wine style rather than one particular grape variety, so two bottles can taste very different.

If you are looking for a semi-sweet red wine, this is a good place to start. Check the label or product description for terms such as semi-sweet, sweet or naturally sweet to find a style that suits you.

2. Red Muscadel

Red Muscadel is a traditional South African sweet fortified wine made from red Muscat grapes. It is generally richer, more aromatic and sweeter than an everyday sweet red.

Its flavours can include ripe fruit, raisins, floral notes, honey and spice, with fortification giving the wine extra richness and a higher alcohol content than an ordinary table wine.

It is a distinctly South African style to try if you enjoy rich, aromatic wines, whether sipped on its own or paired with something sweet.

3. Cape Ruby

Cape Ruby is a South African fortified red wine style with a long place in the country's winemaking tradition. It is typically sweet, rich, fruity and full-bodied.

Expect flavours of dark berries, plum, dried fruit, and spice, with the fortified style adding extra richness.

Cape Ruby is particularly suited to after-dinner drinking, making it a natural choice when you want a sweeter red to sip on its own or pair with a dessert.

4. Jerepigo

Jerepigo can be made as either a red or white sweet wine, but red Jerepigo is the one to look for if you want a sweet red.

Jerepigo is made by adding grape spirit to fresh grape juice before fermentation begins. This prevents the natural grape sugars from fermenting, resulting in a very sweet, rich and full-bodied fortified wine.

Jerepigo is much more intense than an everyday sweet red, making it a good choice if you enjoy plenty of sweetness and richness.

5. Lambrusco

Lambrusco is an Italian red wine that can range from dry to sweet, so it is worth checking the style before choosing a bottle.

If you prefer something sweeter, look for terms such as amabile, meaning semi-sweet, or dolce, meaning sweet.

Lambrusco is often lightly sparkling, giving it a fresher feel than a traditional still red. Strawberry, raspberry and cherry flavours are common, and sweeter styles can be particularly refreshing when served chilled.

6. Brachetto d’Acqui

Brachetto d’Acqui is a sweet Italian red wine from Piedmont. Unlike richer fortified styles, it is generally light-bodied, aromatic and lightly sparkling.

It is known for delicate flavours of strawberry, raspberry, red berries and rose, alongside its noticeable sweetness.

If you prefer a lighter style of sweet red wine, Brachetto d’Acqui is a good choice. Its floral aromas, fresh fruit character and gentle sparkle make it feel more delicate than a rich fortified wine.

7. Recioto della Valpolicella

Recioto della Valpolicella is a rich Italian sweet red wine made using partially dried grapes. Drying the grapes concentrates their natural sugars and flavours, creating a wine that is intensely sweet and full-bodied.

Typical flavours include ripe cherry, dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It is much richer and sweeter than an everyday red, making it a natural choice after dinner or alongside dessert.

For anyone who enjoys rich, pronounced sweetness, Recioto della Valpolicella works particularly well as an after-dinner wine or alongside a dessert.

Sweet Red Wine vs Fruity Red Wine

This distinction is important because a wine can taste fruity without actually being sweet. Someone looking for sweet red wine may simply want a wine with ripe, juicy fruit flavours, so understanding the difference can help you choose the right bottle.

Red wines can have strong flavours of blackberry, cherry, strawberry, plum and raspberry while still being technically dry. Words such as “fruity”, “ripe”, “jammy”, “juicy” and “smooth” describe flavour and texture, not necessarily sugar content.

For example, Shiraz can have ripe blackberry and plum flavours while remaining dry. Merlot can taste soft and full of ripe berry and plum notes without noticeable sweetness. Pinotage can also have generous red and dark fruit flavours while being made as a dry wine.

This is why understanding what a sweet red wine is can be helpful when choosing a bottle. If you specifically want sweetness, check the wine’s sweetness classification rather than relying only on its tasting notes.

If you’re interested in learning more about dry red wines, explore our guide to Exploring Dry Red Wine in South Africa. 

What Food Goes Well With Sweet Red Wine?

Sweet red wine can be surprisingly versatile with food. The key is matching the wine’s sweetness and intensity with the flavours of the dish.

Natural Sweet and Semi-Sweet Reds

Lighter sweet and semi-sweet reds work particularly well with spicy food, barbecue, charcuterie, salty cheeses and pizza. A touch of sweetness can help balance heat, salt and spice, making these wines a good match for bold, savoury flavours.

Rich Sweet Reds

Richer sweet reds pair well with chocolate, berry desserts, fruit-based desserts and rich cheeses. Their sweetness complements these flavours without being overwhelmed.

Fortified Sweet Reds

For fortified styles such as Muscadel, Cape Ruby and Jerepigo, try dark chocolate, nuts, mature cheese or rich after-dinner desserts. Their fuller character makes them particularly suited to the end of a meal, either enjoyed on their own or alongside something equally rich.

Looking for more tips on matching wine with food? Explore our guide to how to pair wine with food.

Finding the Right Sweet Red for You

There are several kinds of sweet red wine, ranging from easy-drinking natural sweet reds to traditional South African Muscadel and Cape fortified wines, as well as international styles such as Lambrusco and Recioto.

The main thing is to decide how much sweetness you enjoy and remember that a fruity red wine is not necessarily a sweet red wine. Once you know the difference, choosing a bottle that suits your taste becomes much easier.

If you love the ripe berry and fruit flavours often found in sweeter reds but want to try a dry wine next, HER Pinotage and Shiraz are two styles worth exploring. Both are dry reds with plenty of fruit character, from the juicy red fruit of Pinotage to the darker berry flavours of Shiraz.

Explore the HER Wine collection and find a bottle that suits your taste.

FAQs About Sweet Red Wine

What is a sweet red wine?

A sweet red wine contains enough residual sugar for its sweetness to be noticeable when you drink it. Some grape sugar remains after fermentation, while winemakers may also stop fermentation intentionally to retain sweetness. The amount of residual sugar varies, which is why some sweet reds are gently sweet while others are rich and intensely sweet.

What red wines are sweet?

If you are wondering what red wines are sweet, examples include natural sweet red blends, Red Muscadel, Cape Ruby, red Jerepigo, sweet Lambrusco, Brachetto d’Acqui and Recioto della Valpolicella. These styles range from light and fruity to rich, full-bodied and intensely sweet.

What is a popular sweet red wine in South Africa?

Natural sweet red blends are widely available in South Africa and are an approachable option if you prefer soft, fruity wines with noticeable sweetness. Muscadel and Cape fortified wines offer more traditional South African options for those who enjoy richer flavours and more pronounced sweetness.

What is the best sweet red wine for beginners?

There is no universal best sweet red wine, as the right choice depends on how much sweetness you enjoy. If you're comparing types of red wine that are sweet, a natural sweet red blend, semi-sweet Lambrusco or Brachetto d’Acqui can be a good introduction.  If you prefer very sweet wines, Muscadel, Jerepigo or a richer fortified style may be a good sweet red wine to explore.

What is the difference between sweet and semi-sweet red wine?

Semi-sweet red wine has noticeable sweetness but generally less than a fully sweet or dessert-style wine. It sits between dry and sweeter styles, making it a good option if you want some sweetness without an intensely sugary taste.

What sweet red wine isn't too sweet?

If you want some sweetness without dessert-wine levels of sugar, look for semi-sweet natural red blends or an amabile Lambrusco. Wines clearly labelled semi-sweet or off-dry are also useful choices when shopping.

Is Shiraz sweet?

Usually not. Most Shiraz is dry, even though ripe blackberry, plum and berry flavours can make it taste fruit-forward. Sweet or semi-sweet Shiraz wines do exist, but the grape variety itself should not automatically be assumed to be sweet.

Want to learn more about this South African red? Explore our guide to South African Shiraz: Exploring its Unique Charm.

Is Merlot sweet?

Most Merlot is dry. Its soft texture and ripe plum and berry flavours can sometimes make it seem sweeter than it actually is. Check the wine’s stated style or sweetness level rather than relying only on its tasting notes.

Is Pinotage sweet?

Most Pinotage is dry. It can have ripe red and dark fruit flavours without containing noticeable residual sugar. As with other red varieties, fruity or ripe tasting notes do not automatically mean the wine is sweet.

Curious to explore South Africa’s signature red grape? Read our guide to Pinotage: South Africa's Signature Red Wine.

How can you tell if a red wine is sweet before buying it?

Look for explicit wording such as sweet, natural sweet, semi-sweet, off-dry or dessert wine. For some Italian wines, terms such as amabile and dolce may also indicate sweeter styles.

Most importantly, do not assume a wine is sweet simply because the tasting notes describe it as fruity, ripe or jammy. These terms describe flavour and can also be used for completely dry wines.

Can sweet red wine be chilled?

Yes. Lighter sweet and semi-sweet reds can often be enjoyed slightly chilled, particularly when they have fresh fruit flavours or gentle sparkle. For any specific bottle, follow the producer’s serving recommendations.

Is sweet red wine the same as dessert wine?

No. Some sweet red wines are dessert wines, but lighter sweet and semi-sweet table wines can also be enjoyed with meals or on their own. The wine’s sweetness, body and overall style determine how it is best served.