Late Harvest Wines
Born from patience and time, late harvest wines blend sweetness, concentrated fruit, and a lingering richness to finish off a delectable meal.
Seriously Sweet
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Born from patience and time, late harvest wines blend sweetness, concentrated fruit, and a lingering richness to finish off a delectable meal.
Late harvest wine is a reminder that some moments are worth savoring. Long after most of the vineyard has been picked, pressed, and bottled, these grapes linger. Their flavors slowly deepen as the residual sugars continue fermenting. What remains is rich and honeyed, with layers of dried fruit, caramel, and spice that unfold gradually in the glass. Both our red and white late harvest wine share this sweeter concentration of flavors, but each offers its own distinction. Our white wines blend apricot, pear, and orange, pairing perfectly with fruity desserts, custards, and cheeses. Our late harvest wines are as perfect for gifting as they are for keeping. And they’ll only get better with age. Some wines are worth waiting for, and these are proof.
$1,100
3L
$1,100
3L
$1,100
3L
$1,100
3L
A late-harvest wine is one made to be enjoyed with both sweet and savory dishes. It is characterized by elevated sweetness and concentrated flavors. These wines are produced through specialized methods including late harvesting and the influence of botrytis (noble rot). Dolce, the late-harvest wine of Far Niente Wine Estates, is the only winery in America devoted entirely to a single late-harvest wine, made in the Sauternes tradition from our estate vineyard in Napa Valley’s Coombsville appellation.
The finest late harvest wines are shaped by Botrytis cinerea — noble rot — a beneficial mold that dehydrates grapes on the vine, concentrating sugars, acids, and flavor compounds into something truly extraordinary. At Dolce, the harvest is conducted in multiple selective passes through the vineyard, picking only the most perfectly affected clusters. This painstaking process, refined over decades at Far Niente Wine Estates, is what gives Dolce its signature richness, complexity, and balance.
Late-harvest wines are defined by their sweetness, but the finest examples — Dolce by Far Niente among them — temper that sweetness with vivid natural acidity. That balance is what keeps the wine from feeling heavy or cloying and gives it the structure to age gracefully over many years. In Dolce, the work is done by Botrytis cinerea, which concentrates sugars and acids together, leaving a wine that is at once rich and refreshing.
Dolce and other fine late-harvest wines pair beautifully with blue cheeses such as Roquefort and Gorgonzola, foie gras, fruit-forward pastries, crème brûlée, and desserts built around honey or stone fruit. The principle to remember: the wine should be at least as sweet as what it accompanies. Dolce is also a complete experience on its own poured slowly after dinner, in place of dessert entirely.
Late-harvest wines show best when well-chilled, between 45 and 50°F (7–10°C), and in modest pours of two to three ounces. The smaller serving allows the wine’s concentrated flavors and aromas to be fully appreciated without overwhelming the palate. A tulip-shaped glass suits Dolce especially well, gathering its aromas of apricot, peach, and citrus zest and letting them evolve beautifully with each sip.
Late-harvest wines are remarkably resilient once opened, thanks to their natural sugar and acidity. Dolce by Far Niente, resealed with its original cork and kept in the refrigerator, will drink beautifully for up to a week. In some cases, a day or two of air will encourage the wine to open further, revealing layers that weren’t apparent on the first pour.
