Dessert wines are sweet wines that can be served alongside a dessert course.  However, dessert wines are equally enjoyable as standalone wines.  In the United States, any wine with more than 14% alcohol is automatically categorized as a dessert wine.  Dessert wines are higher in both sugar and alcohol content than less sweet wines, and this rise in sugar and alcohol can be done in several ways.  Grapes intended for dessert wines are often allowed to ripen longer.  Sugar can be added during the production of dessert wines.  Alcohol can be added, usually using brandy, to raise the dessert wine’s alcohol content.  Water can also be removed to concentrate the sugar and alcohol content of dessert wines.