Fresh sweet wine or demi-sec sparkling
Enough sweetness keeps the wine from tasting sharp beside dessert.
Adapt the match to the dish
Wine sweetness should follow the tart; acidity keeps the match fresh, especially with tart fruit.
When the recipe changes
Lemon tart and ripe-fruit tart need different balance. Dessert sugar and acidity matter more than colour. Sweet Chenin or Petit Manseng is an option; check actual sweetness.
Wines to compare
Petit Manseng — A Pyrenean grape important in sweet Jurançon whites. With a fruit tart, compare the sweetness of dessert and wine first.
Chenin Blanc — Lively acidity in dry, sweet and sparkling wines. This grape can make dry, sparkling or sweet whites: check the stated style before choosing a pairing.
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The tip. A very sweet dessert needs a wine at least as sweet.
