10 Best Sweet Sparkling Wine Bottles (Styles, Taste, Prices, Pairings)

Sweet sparkling wine is a great starting point for beginners looking for a hint of fizz in their tipple!

Besides being a great dessert wine, this sweet bubbly is also a delicious complement to a variety of dishes and works as a great aperitif.

Let’s discover everything about sweet sparkling wine, 10 best bottles, serving and food pairing, and the sweet sparkling wine styles from around the world.

A Quick Intro to Sweet Sparkling Wine

Before we look into some of the most irresistible sweet sparklers, let’s cover some basics:

Where does the sweetness in sweet sparkling wine come from?

Sweet sparkling wine gets its sweetness from its residual sugar, which in turn comes from:

• Sweet aromatic grape varieties: The high sugar content of wine grape varietals like Moscato results in sweeter tasting wines after fermentation.

• Dosage during winemaking: The winemaker adds a sugar solution to balance out the acidity of sparkling wines. This can considerably increase the sweetness level of any sparkler.

What are the different sweet sparkling wine styles based on their sweetness content? 

Depending on the sugar level, the different sweet Champagne wine styles are:

• Doux: Also called Dolce or Dulce, meaning sweet, this is the sweetest style of sparkling wine with over 50 grams of sugar per liter. It is usually served as a dessert wine.

• Demi-sec: Demi sec Champagne and sparkling wine styles are off-dry wines with a medium sweetness level and sugar content of 32 to 50 grams per liter. 

• Secco: The secco (dry) sparkling wine style has a sweetness level of 17 to 32 grams of sugar per liter of wine.

• Extra sec: This style is slightly sweet with just 12 to 17 grams of residual sugar per liter. It is sweeter than Brut Champagne (which has under 12 grams of sugar) and can be served as an aperitif.

10 Exceptional Sweet Sparkling Wines

Here are the most delicious sweet sparkling wines you’ve got to taste now!

1. NV Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose ($74)
2. NV Pommery 'Royal Blue Sky' Sur Glace ($60)
3. NV Billecart-Salmon Demi-Sec ($60)
4. NV Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Demi-Sec ($60)
5. NV Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Sublime Demi-Sec ($51)
6. 2002 Inniskillin Sparkling Vidal Icewine ($265)
7. 2005 Iron Horse Vineyards Wedding Cuvee Sparkling ($60)
8. 2020 Ruggeri 'Giustino B.' Extra Dry ($26)
9. NV Dr. Loosen Riesling Sekt Extra Dry ($19)
10. NV Rondel Semi-Seco Medium-Dry Cava ($9)

1. NV Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose ($74)

This remarkable sweet Champagne Rose wine has succulent strawberry, blackberry, and black currant notes offset by tropical fruit and floral aromas.

2. NV Pommery 'Royal Blue Sky' Sur Glace ($60)

Here’s a sweet Champagne bottle with a creamy mousse palate with apple, honey, and vanilla notes. It is a traditional blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grapes. 

3. NV Billecart-Salmon Demi-Sec ($60)

This balanced demi sec Champagne wine has an irresistible brioche and white flower aroma with a beautiful pear and peach fruity flavor.

4. NV Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Demi-Sec ($60)

Here we have a Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin sweet white wine sparkler with white raspberry, plum, and apricot flavors along with addictive toast and floral aromas.

5. NV Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Sublime Demi-Sec ($51)

This sweet Champagne has balanced acidity and hints of minerality with delicious gingerbread, red berry, and creme brulee flavors.

6. 2002 Inniskillin Sparkling Vidal Icewine ($265)

Here’s a sweet, bubbly wine bottle with high acidity and a beautiful honey and candied fruit aroma. The palate is packed with mesmerizing apricot, peach, and lemon flavors.

7. 2005 Iron Horse Vineyards Wedding Cuvee Sparkling ($60)

This is a creamy Pinot Noir red wine sparkler brimming with green apple, brioche, strawberry notes, and a magnificent dry fruit bouquet.

8. 2020 Ruggeri 'Giustino B.' Extra Dry ($26)

Here we have a fruity Prosecco wine made from the Glera grape varietal using the Charmat method (secondary fermentation in a stainless steel tank.) 

The Italian sparkling wine presents an effervescent dried pear, purple flower, and lime curd nose offset by exquisite almond and shortcake notes. It offers a creamy finish with no hint of oak.

9. NV Dr. Loosen Riesling Sekt Extra Dry ($19)

This is a delicious German sparkling wine bottle with a citrus and earthy nose and exciting grapefruit, apricot, and peach flavors.

10. NV Rondel Semi-Seco Medium-Dry Cava ($9)

Here’s a fascinating Spanish Cava sweet wine with tropical fruit and tree fruit aromas balanced by a palate of honeysuckle, lemon, and apple notes. 

Serving Sweet Sparkling Wine and Food Pairing Ideas

Serve sweet sparkling wine at 7-10 degrees Celsius. You can store the wine in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.

Sweet sparkling wine is also great if you’re a cocktail lover since you can make sweet bubbly fusions like Prosecco punch or raspberry Mimosas. 

You can pair a bottle of your favorite wine with a range of foods, including shellfish, smoked salmon, mushroom, foie gras, salads, cream sauces, and fruit desserts. 

Sweet Sparkling Wine Styles from Around the World

Sweet sparkling wines are produced in many prominent wine regions:

• France: Champagne is the most famous sparkling French wine. It is made exclusively in the Champagne region using methode champenoise (the secondary fermentation happens directly in the bottle.) Cremant is a French sparkling wine style made outside the Champagne region. 

If you’re looking for a sweet French sparkler look for demi-sec, doux, or extra sec on the label.

• Italy: The different sweet Italian sparkling wine styles include Prosecco, Franciacorta, Lambrusco, and Moscato d'Asti (lightly sweet.) The sweetest sparklers from Italy are usually labeled as Dolce (sweet) or Secco (dry.) However, the dry Italian sparklers are  usually sweeter than most brut or dry sparkling wine styles.

• Germany: German sweet sparkling wine is called Sekt, and sweet Sekt wines are semi-dry. Mosel is a leading producer of sweet bubbly wine in the country.

• Spain: Sparkling wines from Spain are called Cava, and the sweetest ones are known as Dulce.

Sweet Sparkling Wine: A Bubbly With Flair and Flavor

Sweet sparkling wine is the best bubbly to pair with all your favorite foods and serve as a dessert or aperitif. So, pop a bottle to delight your guests at your next dinner party!

But, if you prefer to build a portfolio of investment-grade Champagne and sparkling wines, turn to Vinovest. 

This website is your one-stop-shop to buy, store, and sell authentic wine labels (from Brut Champagne and dry sparkling wine, to the finest sweet wines) from around the world.