Top 100 sweet wines of Iowa

Discover the top 100 best sweet wines of Iowa as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the sweet wines that are popular of Iowa and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Iowa

Iowa is a Midwestern state bordered by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The continental Climate and unpredictable weather here - as in many Midwestern states - make viticulture extremely challenging, but Iowa's ever-growing wine industry is finding its feet throughout the state. HybridGrape varieties specifically designed for cold climates make up the majority of plantings, with the best wines coming from Marechal Foch, Frontenac and La Crescent. Iowa covers 146,000 square kilometers, between latitudes 40 and 43°N.

Iowa is on par with other states in the European Union. This puts Iowa on the same level as the South of France, although the Terroir is very different. While the vineyards of Provence are influenced by the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea, Iowa has a strongly continental climate, with hot, humid summers and Harsh winters. This presents a challenge for the state's winemakers, which they overcome by using native grape varieties and seeking out more temperate mesoclimates.

News from the vineyard of Iowa

Azores to get own regional vine and wine institute

The creation of an Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho dos Açores (IVVA), with headquarters in the island of Pico, follows the remarkable qualitative growth that the Archipelago of the Azores’ wine industry has been experiencing over the past decade. ‘People are excited about growing fruit and making wine here. There are about 300 growers producing their own fruit and a lot of small “garage” producers are starting. Some of them have worked and trained with us and are now making very interesting wines, ...

Reaction as Mouton and Margaux 2021 released en primeur

Both Mouton and Margaux 2021 were released en primeur at €420 per bottle ex-Bordeaux, down 2.8% on the 2020-vintage debut last year, according to Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the trade. While the market dynamics vary between these two First Growths, their 2021 grands vins were being sold en primeur as the cheapest of the last four vintages – below current prices on 2018, 2019 and 2020. Merchants were offering Mouton 2021 and Margaux 2021 at £5,100 (12x75cl in bond). Initial signs suggested t ...

Christmas 2021: Wine & Spirits Advent calendars

With the festive season upon us, the countdown to all things merry has begun. The daily surprise from behind each door on an Advent calendar is one the most exciting rituals in the build up to Christmas day. No longer the remit of chocolate and children only, spirits and wine Advent calendars are increasing in popularity and are now much-anticipated Christmas staples in their own right (for adults, that is!). Below, you will find our selection of the best wine and spirits Advent calendars. They ...

The best wines of Iowa in other styles