Dear Karen, Does red wine tend to be sweeter than white wine?

January 30, 2026

Dear Karen, Does red wine tend to be sweeter than white wine?The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Dear Meg: It can seem that way—especially when the red wine is from a warm area and has a core of ripe berry flavor (which can seem sweet). In addition, red wine tends to be lower in acidity than white wine, again leading to an impression of sweetness. But the perception of sweetness is just that—perception. Fine red table wines are actually not sweeter than white wines. In fact, neither red nor white table wine is sweet (i.e. they do not contain a perceptible amount of sugar). For the most part, the only wines that are actually sweet are sweet dessert wines (like Sauternes for example), and some inexpensive wines intended for wine drinkers who like sweet mellow wines.

—Karen

For what food has the TSA (US Tranportation Security Administration) recently issued an advisory saying that the substance must only be transported in checked luggage, not in carry-on? The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

A. Carne Asada seasoning

B. Wagyu beef jerky

C. Ranch dressing

D. Kit Kat bars

22.5

Amount (in thousands of US$) paid at auction for a single bottle of 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, the red wine that came in first in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting fifty years ago. The bottle, sold by Christie’s auction house, was The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.