Semi-Sweet

/SEM-ee sweet/

Wine with noticeable but not dominant sweetness.

Full Definition

Semi-sweet wines have noticeable sweetness (typically 20-70 g/L RS) but aren't fully dessert wines. The term is imprecise and used differently in different regions. German wines use amabile, moelleux, or halbtrocken. Sweetness often balances high acidity.

Related Terms

off dry medium sweet halbtrocken

See Also

residual sugar balance

Semi-Carbonic Back to Glossary Sherry

More terms starting with S

Saignee

Bleeding off juice from red wine tanks to make rose.

Sangiovese

Italy's most planted red grape, the base of Chianti.

Savory

Non-fruit flavors like herbs, earth, and umami.

Screwcap

Metal closure alternative to cork.

Secondary Aromas

Aromas from fermentation and winemaking.

Sediment

Solid particles that settle in wine over time.