NZ & International Sweet Wines

November 1, 2024 (Cuisine magazine Issue 226)

Learn to love dessert wines and they reward you with sweet success, says MARY-THÉRÈSE BLAIR.

While this category is small, it is beloved by the judges because these aren’t the wines you have every day. The decadent pleasure of sweet wine is what makes it all the more enjoyable every now and then.

Not all sweet wines are created equal; the top results include three different grape varieties with varying sweetness levels. I admit I get a bit miffed when people make a blanket statement such as, “I don’t like sweet wines”. To which I usually reply, “Have you tasted them all?” A bit snarky, but maybe it’s because I used to think similarly until I learned how to appreciate these wines, and there are still many people who love a dessert wine. So as long as people want to share their sweet wines for us to assess at Cuisine, we’ll continue to talk about just how special they are. When it comes to wine, a little bit of knowledge is a glorious thing.

top NZ & International Sweet Wines

Seifried Winemakers Collection Nelson ‘Sweet Agnes’ Riesling 2024

Usually something quite unctious or a full-on botrytis-laden-style takes the top sweet wine accolade, but this year the top wine is a fresher, leaner and oh-so elegant example. The sweet nectar from which this wine is crafted is made from 100% riesling grapes that have naturally dehydrated and raisined. The grapes are hand harvested and this wine is not made in every year, making it even more special and rare, much like its namesake.

Sweet Agnes takes its name from the co-founder and matriarch of the family Agnes Seifried. Agnes, the daughter of a Southland sheep farmer, met and fell in love with Austrian winemaker Hermann Seifried and together they planted the region’s first vineyards in 1973. Since then, they have been making wine while raising their three children. It’s a truly family endeavour, inspired by a dream to make wine and the belief that they could do anything together.

Among the results of that dream comes this wine, one that our judges unanimously agreed was a joy to assess. A pale-green colour in the glass with subtle passionfruit aromas alongside lime citrus and jasmine blossom on this complex and beguiling nose. The palate has lovely sweetness balanced against fresh, bright crisp acidity. The palate is long and elegant and altogether moreish.

It seems wholly appropriate that head judge Simon Nunns described this wine as, “A gentle peck on the cheek from the world’s most beautiful woman.” I have no doubt that Hermann feels the same way about his Sweet Agnes.

| $29
→ more 1 View All Results in the Seifried Winemakers Collection Nelson ‘Sweet Agnes’ Riesling 2024 Tasting

Star ratings for this tasting

» How ratings work

  • Outstanding 2
  • Excellent 2
  • Very Good 4
  • Good 5
  • No Award 2
  • Total Entries 15

Search wine

Select at least one filter to refine your wine search

Wine tasting results