The Sweeter the Better

• Desserts, because of their sweetness, often render popular wines, like Chardonnay or Merlot, bitter and astringent. An easy way to combat this is by pairing sweet wines with desserts. In the case of a lemon curd trifle, with its citrus and sweet combination, a wine that's very sweet will enable you to enjoy the creamy lemony flavor without sacrificing the wine's impact on your pallet. Both Noble Rot wines and Icewines are sweet enough to compliment lemon-based desserts.

Noble Rot Wines

• Grapes affected by Noble Rot, the fungus botrytis cinerea, make some of the sweetest wines in the world because this fungus forces a grape's water content to evaporate, while retaining all the sugar. A few Noble Rot wines that will nicely accompany a lemon curd trifle include Hungarian Tokaji, made from the Furmint grape, French Sauternes, made from the Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes in Bordeaux and a German Beerenauslese, made from the Riesling grape.

Icewines

• Icewine, often called Eiswein in Germany, is made from either Riesling or Vidal grapes that have been frozen on the vine. Canadian wineries are renowned for their Icewines, due to the country's harsh, icy winters. You can also find quality Icewines in the Niagara, Lake Erie and Finger Lakes regions of New York State. Icewine is made from frozen, handpicked grapes, which are often left on the vine well into January. Because the grapes are frozen when harvested and pressed, the sugar content is much higher.

Serving Tips

• A little Icewine goes a long way, so keep your servings to about two to three ounces. Whether you're serving Canadian Icewine, Tokaji or Sauternes with your lemon curd trifle, make sure its well-chilled, at least 43 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, be sure to serve these wines in small glasses that are more closed off at the top. Smaller glasses keep the wine cold as well as concentrate the bouquet.