Dessert & Special Wines at Vino Bistro Sarasota

Every great meal deserves a proper ending, and at Vino Bistro in Sarasota's Rosemary District, we close the evening with two exceptional dessert wines. These are the bottles that turn a good night into a memorable one — rich, sweet, and meant to be savored slowly while the live music plays and the last bites of the evening disappear.

Our Dessert Wines

Croft Extravagance Port — Portugal

Tinto Cao, Tinta Barroca | $20 glass · $60 bottle

Ruby-colored and full-bodied, this Port from the Croft house offers ripe, jammy aromas of raisins and black plums with medium tannins that give it structure without heaviness. Port is one of the world's great after-dinner traditions, and this bottle delivers the experience beautifully. Try it alongside a chocolate dessert, a cheese plate with aged Gouda or Stilton, or simply on its own as the perfect nightcap.

The Croft house has been producing Port in Portugal's Douro Valley since 1588, making it one of the oldest Port producers in the world. Their “Extravagance” bottling lives up to its name — it's indulgent without being heavy, sweet without being cloying.

Antichi Baronati Marsala Fine Ambra Sweet — Sicily, Italy

Marsala | $20 glass · $60 bottle

Most people only know Marsala as a cooking wine, but tasting the real thing is a revelation. This classic Sicilian dessert wine is rich, smooth, and amber-hued with notes of dried fruit, caramel, and warm spice. It's been produced in the city of Marsala on Sicily's western coast for centuries, and drinking a proper glass of it is like tasting a piece of Italian history.

Pair it with biscotti, almond-based desserts, or simply enjoy it after your meal as a digestif. It's also surprisingly wonderful alongside our charcuterie board — the sweetness plays beautifully off salty cured meats and aged cheeses.

When to Order Dessert Wine

Dessert wines aren't just for dessert. Here are some of our favorite moments to pour one: as a nightcap after live jazz on our patio; alongside a cheese and charcuterie board instead of a traditional red; as a birthday or anniversary toast — the richness makes it feel celebratory; on a cool Sarasota evening when you want something warming and comforting; or anytime you want to slow down and savor the last hour of the night.

Staff Pick

If you've never had a proper glass of Port, start with the Croft Extravagance. It's the wine that converts people who think they don't like sweet wine — there's enough structure and complexity to satisfy even committed dry-wine drinkers.

Visit Vino Bistro

Both dessert wines are available by the glass and bottle every evening at Vino Bistro, 1419 5th Street in Sarasota's Rosemary District. Explore our full wine guide, browse our red wines, white wines, and sparkling and rosé selection, or make a reservation. We look forward to pouring you the perfect ending to your evening.