There’s nothing quite like an excellent dessert wine to add an extra special touch to this course of a meal. Selecting just the right type of wine, however, is essential to make the move a pleasure rather than a flop.

Dessert wines are traditionally quite sweet and they often have rather fruity flavors. This lends them for pairings with certain desserts and not others. In some cases, champagne might prove to be a better choice.

Do keep in mind that if wine is served with other courses in a meal that water should also be served with each course. For guests to be able to fully enjoy the tastes of new wines served, water is necessary to rinse the mouth.

To help dessert wines go over well at the end of a meal, consider these tips:

• Serve the wine alone – A dessert wine doesn’t necessarily have to go with an actual dessert. A sweeter, fruity wine can stand alone as a meal topper that sparkles.
• Serve a light, fruity dessert – Many dessert wines go very well with iced desserts, such as sorbet. It’s even possible to create iced wine with a dessert wine to serve in lieu of wine in a glass or a full dessert.
• Sherry and chocolate go hand-in-hand – If a dessert involves dark chocolate in the mix, sherry is an exceptional choice.
• Ice wines go with almost anything – These sweet, flavorful wines make a great pairing with most desserts, sweet cakes and breads.
• Use champagne to overcome the cheesecake challenge – There are not many wines that go well with this popular, but rich dessert. Champagne, however, can provide the perfect finishing touch.

Finishing off a meal with a dessert wine is a great way to make the experience even more enjoyable. Do take the time to select the bottle carefully to properly compliment the flavors of the meal.