Best Sweet Red Wines
For many people new to wine, sweet red wines are a great entry point. As a culture, we are used to drinking sweetened drinks from an early age. Jumping directly into a dry, complex red wine may be too much at first. Thankfully, there are some good sweet red wines that are readily accessible at online wine stores or at your local grocer.
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Sweet Red Wines
Please note that this article on the best sweet red wines contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase one of these top wines, we may receive a marketing fee.
Quick Guide To Sweet Red Wine
Dessert Wines
When longtime wine drinkers talk about sweet wines, they are usually referring specifically to the category of dessert wines. These sweet wines come in a wide range of styles and production methods.
Among them, Port, Madeira, and Marsala are the most prominent. There are also many types of specialty sweet wines, including Dolce, Dessert, Sec, Demi-sec, Late Harvest, and more.
These are produced to complement sweet desserts or cheese boards. We've included a few ruby ports on our list below. These are wines for sipping with your sweet treat.
Sweet (fruity) Red Wines
The sweet red wines at the start of the list or more suitable for everyday drinking.
There can be some confusion between sweet red wines and reds that are fruity. Sweet wines have residual sugar that is left after fermentation. Fruity wines are dry wines (no residual sugar) with aromas and tastes of fruits like cherry, raspberry, plum, or blackberry to name a few. When you drink these red wines, they may seem pleasantly sweet to you. A nice example is how sweet merlot can taste. The red fruits aromas from the grape trick your brain into thinking you are drinking something sweet.
QUICK OVERVIEW: Our Top Picks for Best Sweet Red Wines
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick Apothic Red Blend
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Witching Hour Sweet Red Blend
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Sweet and Fruity Lost Poet Red
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Cupcake Red Velvet Wine
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Low Alcohol New Age Red
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Amabile
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Carletto Ricco Dolce
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Chocolate Shop Chocolate Red Wine
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Ramos Pinto Fine Ruby Port
| Check Latest Price → |
 | Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port
| Check Latest Price → |
So let's dive in. Here are some of the best sweet red wines.
Apothic Red Blend
This is one of the more popular sweet red wines available right now. The winemakers did a nice job of creating a wine that can appeal to a new wine drinker while not overdoing the sweetness. You can enjoy this wine and get a sense of what is to come as you move into drier reds.
Apothic Red is a blend of zinfandel, merlot, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon. We feel that this is a zin-driven wine with a flavor profile to match. The wine starts with a blast of ripe dark fruit, think black plums, and cherries. Then you get an explosion of berry flavor followed by subtle notes of cocoa and vanilla. There is a fair amount of acidity that helps to balance out the sweetness, but you will get a lot of sweetness from this wine.
You can pair Apothic Red with a great cheese by clicking here.
Click here | Order a bottle of Apothic Red
Sometimes there are better prices here | Click to check
Or click here to check a wine club that's just for sweet wine lovers
Witching Hour Sweet Red Blend
This is an uncommonly enjoyable sweet red wine. With a light body and a lot of ripe red fruit, Witching Hour is a great introduction to red wines for white wine drinkers.
We also like the lower alcohol content of this wine. It clocks in at only 13.5% abv. That is on the low side for red wine. It's a perfect wine to bring along to a cookout or a picnic. That's what makes this one of the best sweet red wines available.
The winemaker suggests pairing this wine with barbecued meats or brie cheese. We find sweet reds also pair well with spicier dishes.
Click here to pick up a bottle.
Lost Poet Red Blend
The Lost Poet Red Blend from WINC is one of the best slightly sweet red wines we've tasted. This is a classic fruity wine from California. The upfront red fruit consists of cherry and cranberry. The finish includes a little bit of pepperiness. While Lost Poet does feature some sweetness, this is a great bridge wine for anyone ready to make the jump from a truly sweet red wine to a more traditional dry wine.
This is a great introduction to red wines for newcomers who want a delicious and fruit-forward wine. If this wine is out of stock, consider Wall of Sound or Loves Me Not red blend.
You can order a few bottles from Winc by Clicking Here.
Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz
The Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz is the only South Africa representation on this list. This affordable wine has a rich red color and semi-sweet taste. The berry scents and flavors are prominent, most notably blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry. There are also traces of dark chocolate. Equally acidic and sweet, the Sweet Shiraz 2017 has a deep, rich color. This is probably the best sweet red wine for beginners.
While it can be enjoyed on its own, the Sweet Shiraz 2017 is also great with a wide variety of savory foods or as an aperitif. Best pairings include aged cheeses, grilled meats, blue cheeses, and Moroccan-spiced lamb.
Click here to order a few bottles
Click here to be notified about exciting wine discounts
Cupcake Red Velvet Wine
This grocery store favorite is another excellent choice if you are looking for sweet red wine. The winemakers took care to create an easy-drinking sweet red wine that will appeal to beginning wine drinkers.
Expect a mouthful of bright red fruit and a nice silky feel to the wine. Think red cherries and maybe a hint of raspberry. The wine finishes with some vanilla from the oak it is aged in. The wine does have a good amount of sugar, but the acidity does balance it a bit. As you would expect, there isn't a ton of complexity, but the wine does have an OK finish and the price is definitely right.
Click here to see the current price
New Age Red
The New Age Red comes in a modern, elegantly designed package. It is a sweet and fruity wine from the Mendoza Province of Argentina and contains around 6% alcohol. Befitting the bottle’s bold design, the wine has an audacious blend of freshness and raspberry/cherry taste. It also has a pleasant mix of violet and rose aromas. The grape varieties used include 30% Malbec and 70% Bonarda.
Owing to its fresh flavor and distinct aroma, the New Age Red is best served chilled. It works well as an aperitif or with dessert.
Click here to see the current price
Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Amabile
Cleto Chiarli’s Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Amabile is made from Lambrusco grapes grown in Emilia Romagna, Italy. Like all Amabile wines, it has a semi-sweet taste. It is rich in fruity aromas that span a full range of grape scents. This is one of the best sweet and fruity wines around.
This fantastic sweet red wine goes well on its own, as well as with Italian cuisine. If you’re serving it with food, pizza, lasagna, and cured meats are your best choices.
Click here to see the current price
Carletto Ricco Dolce
The Ricco Dolce by Carletto is a quality, affordable variety of sweet red wine. It features an excellent combination of nectarine and raspberry flavors and a pleasant, sweet aroma, making it one of the best sweet and fruity wines. The Ricco Dolce also has a bubbly character and a refreshing taste. The wine is made from 30% Malvasia Rosso and 70% Brachetto. The total alcohol content is pretty low at only 6.5% ABV.
Carletto’s Ricco Dolce goes well with desserts. Some of the recommendations include crème brulee, fruit salad, cheesecake, and chocolate
Click here to see the current price
Chocolate Shop Chocolate Red Wine
The Chocolate Red Wine from Chocolate Shop is an ideal sweet red wine for beginners. It has a beautiful medium red color and 12.5% alcohol. Dark chocolate and cherry are the most prominent flavors, with cocoa powder undertones. Chocolate Red Wine has a smooth finish with a residual sugar finish.
Chocolate Shop’s Chocolate Red Wine can be served both chilled and at ambient temperature, depending on your preferences. It goes great with sweet desserts.
Click here to see the current price
Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port
Named after the town of Oporto (from which they originate), port wines are renowned for their sweetness. Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port belongs to the tawny type, a bit on the dry side. It has a nutty character, with intertwining caramel, dried fruit, coffee beans, and green tea aromas.
Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny is best served with desserts, such as crème brulee and vanilla ice cream. It is recommended to serve it slightly chilled and in Port glasses to accentuate its rich aroma and complex taste.
Click here to see the current price
Ramos Pinto Fine Ruby Port
Port is arguably the best sweet red wine, or at least the most popular, enjoyed by millions of wine enthusiasts around the world. The ruby variety generally offers more freshness and a stronger attack than the tawny. The Ramos Pinto Fine Ruby Port is one of the best affordable ruby ports out there. It comes in a rich red color and a blend of plum, blackberry, raspberry, and cherry aromas.
This ruby port is best served at room temperature (16-20 degrees Celsius) thanks to its fresh and rich taste. Best pairings include cheese and crackers and sweet desserts.
Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port
This fine Zinfandel Port comes from the foothills of the Sierra Mountains in California. It is one of Tierra d’Oro’s most acclaimed ports. Like all ports, it is a strong wine (19% ABV) with a sweet and rich taste. It features aromas of berry fruits, orange peel, and sugar dates, coated with the sweetness of chocolate. Hints of cocoa, toffee, and raisins are also present.
As for pairings, the Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port goes best with blue cheeses, particularly the Stilton cheese. It also pairs well with toasted walnuts.
Click here to see the current price
Red Wine Sweetness Chart
This chart will give you an idea of how sweet various wines are. These are listed by grape variety and wine style.
Very Sweet
- Ruby Port
- Tawny Port
Sweet
- Brachetto D'acqui
- Beaugolais Nouveau
- Lambrusco
Medium Sweet
- Shiraz
- Zinfandel
- Malbec
- Grenache
Dry
- Merlot
- Syrah
- Sangiovese
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinot Noir
Conclusion
Sweet red wines like a sweet merlot or sweet shiraz can serve as a great introduction to red wines, or wines in general. They are generally easier on the tongue than the traditional Bordeaux and Cabernet varieties. While in no way complete, this list of best sweet red wines might give you a good idea as to where to start.
