Furmint is a high-acid white grape best known from Hungary’s Tokaj region, producing everything from bone-dry whites to intensely sweet Tokaji. Expect green apple, pear and citrus with quince, herbs and a mineral edge, while sweeter styles bring apricot and honey. It’s brilliant with seafood, roast chicken, pork, spicy Asian food, blue cheese and fruit desserts.

Trockenbeerenauslese is an intensely sweet dessert wine style from Germany and Austria, made from individually selected grapes shrivelled by noble rot. Expect apricot, peach and citrus with honey, dried fruit and warming spice, balanced by brilliant acidity. It’s stunning with blue cheese, crème brûlée, cheesecake, fruit tarts and apricot desserts.

Beerenauslese is a rich, sweet wine style from Germany and Austria, made from individually selected, very ripe grapes, often affected by noble rot. Expect apricot, peach and citrus with honey, tropical fruit and spice, balanced by refreshing acidity. It’s brilliant with blue cheese, crème brûlée, cheesecake, fruit tarts and peach or apricot desserts.

Icewine is an intensely sweet dessert wine made from grapes that freeze naturally on the vine, most famously in Canada and Germany. Expect peach, apricot and tropical fruit with honey and citrus, balanced by brilliant acidity. Rich, concentrated and luxurious, it’s stunning with cheesecake, crème brûlée, fruit tarts, blue cheese and tropical fruit desserts.

Tokaji is a famous white wine from Hungary’s Tokaj region, best known for its rich, sweet styles made largely from Furmint. Expect apricot, peach and citrus with honey, marmalade and warming spice, balanced by brilliant acidity. It’s a stunning match for blue cheese, foie gras, cheesecake, fruit tarts, crème brûlée and apricot desserts.

Sauternes is a rich, sweet white wine from Bordeaux, France, usually made from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by noble rot. Expect apricot, peach and citrus with honey, marmalade and spice. Luscious but balanced by bright acidity, it’s brilliant with blue cheese, foie gras, crème brûlée, cheesecake and fruit tarts.

Brachetto d'Acqui is a sweet, lightly sparkling red from Piedmont in northern Italy, bursting with strawberry, raspberry, cherry and rose. Light, fruity and usually lower in alcohol than most reds, it’s a brilliant match for chocolate, strawberries, berry desserts, cheesecake and fruit tarts – basically, dessert just found its plus-one.

Vidal is a white grape best known from Canada, where it’s famous for producing rich, intensely sweet Icewine. Expect peach, apricot and pineapple with honey, citrus and tropical fruit, balanced by refreshing acidity. It’s brilliant with cheesecake, fruit tarts, crème brûlée, blue cheese and tropical fruit desserts.

Monbazillac is a rich, sweet white wine from southwestern France, usually made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes affected by noble rot. Expect apricot, peach and citrus with honey, marmalade and floral notes. Luscious but fresh, it’s brilliant with blue cheese, foie gras, cheesecake, crème brûlée and fruit tarts.

Asti Spumante is a sweet, fully sparkling white from Piedmont in northern Italy, made from Moscato Bianco grapes. Expect peach, apricot and fresh grape flavours with orange blossom, honeysuckle and plenty of bubbles. Light, fruity and usually low in alcohol, it’s brilliant with fruit tarts, cheesecake, pavlova, fresh berries and spicy Asian food.