Any wine can be sweet. The sweetness of a wine, whether it’s a Riesling or a Marquette, is determined by the winemaker’s choices during production.
Wine sweetness can range from bone-dry with almost no residual sugar to intensely sweet, with some dessert wines reaching up to 25% sugar content.
Whether you prefer crisp, dry whites or rich, sweet dessert wines, understanding where a wine falls on the sweetness spectrum can help guide your choice.
The below graphics (with text-only versions) show where our Vermont wines fall on the sugar spectrum.
Note: The residual sugar content in our wines varies from year to year. The below is a general guide.
Wine Sweetness Chart: White
| Wine | Sweetness Level | Residual Sugar (% RS) |
| Pét Nat Snow Trip White | Dry | 0.1% |
| Crescent Bay White | Dry | 0.1% |
| Vidal Blanc | Dry | 0.2% |
| Seyval Blanc | Dry | 0.5% |
| Riesling | Off-Dry | 1.0% |
| Naked Mermaid | Off-Dry | 1.5% |
| Snow White | Off-Dry | 2.0% |
| Fox Hill Maple | Semi-Sweet | 5.5% |
| Island Apple Dessert Wine | Sweet | 8.0% |
| Late Harvest | Very Sweet | 12.0% |
| Ice Wine | Very Sweet | 22.0% |
Wine Sweetness Chart: Red
| Wine | Sweetness Level | Residual Sugar (% RS) |
| Marquette | Dry | 0.1% |
| Crescent Bay Red | Dry | 0.1% |
| Leon Millot Reserve | Dry | 0.1% |
| Leon Millot | Dry | 0.1% |
| Petite Pearl | Dry | 0.1% |
| Baco Noir | Dry | 0.1% |
| Pét Nat Snow Trip Red | Dry | 0.1% |
| Rosé | Dry | 0.5% |
| Rose Red | Semi-Sweet | 4.0% |
| Fortress Red | Sweet | 5.0% |
Residual Sugar and Wine Types
The sweetness of wine is measured by its residual sugar (10 g/L RS), typically expressed as a percentage. Understanding these sweetness levels can help you identify your preferred style:
- Bone dry wines: Less than 0.1% sweetness
- Dry wines: 0.1% and 1% sweetness
- Off-dry wines: 1.1% and 3.5% sweetness
- Semi-sweet wines: 3.5 to 5% sweetness
- Sweet wines: 5% to 12% sweetness
- Very sweet dessert wines: Begin at 12% sweetness and can reach higher levels
Sweetness and Wine Pairing
The sweetness level of a wine plays a big role in how it pairs with food and how it’s enjoyed on its own. For example:
- Dry wines (like Seyval Blanc and Marquette) shine with savory dishes.
- Semi-dry wines (like Snow White and Frontenac Gris Rosé) balance well with mildly spiced or tangy dishes.
- Sweet wines (like Late Harvest Vignoles and Vignoles Rosé) offer a refreshing contrast to salty or rich foods.
- Very sweet wines (like Ice Wine and Island Apple Dessert Wine) are ideal for dessert or sipping solo.
Explore the Sweetness Spectrum at Snow Farm
At Snow Farm Vineyard, there’s a wine for every palate, from dry whites and bold reds to sweet dessert wines.
Visit our shop to explore the full range of wines and discover your favorites on the sweetness spectrum.
