Kopke, Fine Tawny Port

Med Bag of Chips

Ham, cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes, and arugula.

Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mustard in a whole wheat wrap.

Fit Turkey Wrap

1oz tastings of royal tokaji late harvest, château laribotte sauternes, and cigarrera pedro ximenez sherry

Chill the wines lightly if not already cooled: dessert wines are best served slightly chilled. Aim for about 8–12°C (46–54°F). Remove bottles from fridge 10 minutes before serving so aromas open slightly. Inspect each bottle for clarity and any cork abnormalities.

Chill & Inspect

Use three identical tasting glasses (small white wine glasses or copitas) and place them left-to-right. If you want a blind tasting, cover or decant into numbered glasses. Place a small glass or spittoon and a bowl of water nearby for rinsing and palate cleansing. Lay out plain crackers or bread on a plate.

Select glassware and layout

Place tasting mat or index cards in front of each glass and write the wine name (Royal Tokaji Late Harvest, Château Laribotte Sauternes, Cigarrera Pedro Ximénez) or number them 1–3 if doing a blind comparison.

Labeling

Pour 1 oz (approximately 30 ml) of Royal Tokaji Late Harvest into the first glass. Pour 1 oz of Château Laribotte Sauternes into the second glass. Pour 1 oz of Cigarrera Pedro Ximénez sherry into the third glass. Use a small jigger for consistent pours. Place the bottles behind their corresponding glasses so guests can see them after tasting, or keep them covered for a blind tasting.

Present the flight to your guests with the water, neutral crackers or bread, and optional small pairings (cheeses, dried apricots, nuts) arranged for easy access. Explain the order you recommend tasting: typically move from lightest sweetness and body to richest and most intense — Tokaji, Sauternes, then Pedro Ximénez.

Hold each glass against a white background and observe color and viscosity. Note gold, amber, or mahogany hues and the legs that indicate sugar and glycerol.

Appearance

Swirl gently and sniff each wine. For Tokaji expect apricot, honey, orange peel and botrytis notes. For Sauternes look for honey, marmalade, tropical fruit and almond. For PX sherry expect concentrated raisin, molasses, fig, and toffee. Take time with each aroma before moving on.

Aroma

Take a small sip and let the wine coat your palate. Evaluate sweetness, acidity, fruit, botrytis character, and finish. Compare structure: Tokaji often has bright acidity balancing sweetness; Sauternes is round, rich and honeyed; PX is intensely sweet, viscous and raisin-like. Use water or a plain cracker between samples to reset the palate.

Taste

Taste optional pairing items with the wines to explore complementarities: blue cheese with Sauternes or Tokaji, dried apricot with Tokaji, Manchego with PX for contrast. Take small bites between tastings and cleanse palate with water.

Pairing bites

After tasting, allow guests to discuss favorites. If desired, pour a larger serving of a preferred wine. Rinse glasses with warm water and air-dry; do not use detergent immediately if you plan to reuse for more tastings the same day, as soap residue can affect aroma.

Royal Tokaji Late Harvest (Hungary)

Château Laribotte Sauternes (France)

Cigarrera Pedro Ximénez Sherry (Spain)

Tasting glasses (small white wine or copita)

Water (for palate cleansing)

Plain crackers or unsalted bread (optional palate neutralizer)

Small spittoon or waste cup (optional)

Tasting mat or index cards (to label wines)

Blue cheese (such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola), small cubes

Aged Manchego or hard cheese, thin slices

Dried apricots

Roasted nuts (almonds or walnuts)

dessert wine flight

Dwayne M. Filet

Oysters

includes host's choice of one plated children's entree, scoop of ice cream, milk, juice, or non-alcoholic beverage. available for children up to 12 years old.

Event Child

host's choice of 3 élégant items, 1 prestige item, classique plateau fromage display

Cocktail Soirée

host's choice of 1 soup or salad starter, 2 entrée choices, 1 dessert, bread service

Three Course

host's choice of 2 élégant items, 2 prestige items, crudite platter, la grande fromagerie fromage & salumi display

Fête Hors D'Oeuvres

Make Dessert Wine Flight Recipe in just 25m. 1oz tastings of royal tokaji late harvest, château laribotte sauternes, and cigarrera pedro ximenez sherry

Dessert Wine Flight Recipe

Descriptors

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings

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