Fortified wines were once some of the most sought-after wines. They were appreciated for their strength, resistance and sweetness. But since then, they’ve gone a bit out of fashion. But Fortified Wines are filled with ancient traditions and refined winemaking techniques, making them some of the finest beverages to try. To help you learn about the wide and wonderful world of fortified wine, this guide to fortified wine will overview everything you need to know:
- What is a fortified wine?
- Key types of fortified wine
- Food pairings
- How to store them
What is fortified wine?
There are so many different types of fortified wines that deliver different colours, flavours, origin and sweetness. But they all have one thing in common: fortification.
Fortification is where a grape spirit is added to the wine during or after fermentation. The process became popular in the late 17th century and was used to stabilise and preserve wines for long sea voyages so that the wine lastest the journey without becoming vinegar.
This technique increases alcohol and stops fermentation. But many decisions around when you add the grape spirit and how it’s matured creates a diverse array of styles. Many fortified wines are on the sweeter side as natural fermentation has been halted before the sugar has been converted to alcohol (or sweetener is added). However, you can still get dry styles of fortified wine too.
As most styles are sweet, these wines are usually drunk as an aperitif (particularly Sherry), or as an after dinner drink (Port). Strong, complex flavours and relatively higher alcohol content also makes them a great addition to cocktails (Vermouth).
What type of alcohol is added?
Regulations around the world (especially in Europe) allow only spirits distilled from grapes to be added to the wine. This is because the addition of flavour from the spirit is not the goal. The goal is simply to increase the alcohol content without impacting the natural tastes of the wine. As a result, fortified wines are almost always produced using neutral grape brandy which usually has an ABV between 70% to 98%.
What are the key types of Fortified wine?
There are many types of fortified wines and this guide to fortified wine won’t cover everything. Within each category, there are also different types to discover too! So this guide will just overview the key types and what sets them apart.
Sherry
Sherry is one of the most diverse types of fortified wine and comes from a specific region of Analusia, Spain. Sherry comes in a range of styles from fino (dry) to olorosso (rich), with plenty of subcategories in between such as amontillado, moscatel, and Manzanilla sherries.
As sherry is fortified after they ferment, it can be dry in style. However, some are still sweet due to additional sweeteners added during production. Sherry is aged using a solera system which is where the wine is transferred between barrels to add complexity.
Port
Fun fact: Port can only come from a region of Portugal called the Duoro Valley. So if you used to enjoy Port from Australia you will find the name will have been changed.
Port comes in two basic styles: Ruby and Tawny, with all being fortified before fermentation with brandy.
Port has a rich, deep flavour and usually notes of raspberries or cherries. As a result, it is often paired with dessert.
Madiera
Madiera is from the Madiera islands off Portugal’s southwestern coast near Morocco. The wine is repeatedly heated and then cooled as it ages. Historically this was a result of being taken onto deck during sea voyages. Now this is done either by artificially heating and cooling the wine or placing it in a warm, sunny attic.
Madeira ranges from dry (Sercial) to sweet and rich (Malmsey) and can range in price too. Basic, inexpensive Madeira is used in cooking, so it’s best to go for ‘noble’ varieties if you want to enjoy it as a drink. The quality is also classified by age, where the number of years refers to how long the wine has been aged in barrel from three to over 20 years.
Marsala
Marsala is a fortified white wine from Sicily and it comes in gold, amber and ruby colours. Each also comes in three sweetness levels: dry (secco), sweet (semisecco) and very sweet (dolce). Dry styles of marsalas make a great aperitivo where sweet marsala is used often in cooking where they create rich, nutty flavours.
Vermouth
Vermouth is a part of a subcategory of fortified wines known as aromatized wines which are wines that have been fortified not only with spirits but herbs as well, including cloves, cinnamon and wormwood.
Vermouth comes in sweeter red or dry white vermouth, as well as Italian and French varieties. Sweet vermouth is often used in a negroni, whilst dry vermouth is perfect in a martini.
What to pair with fortified wines
Fortified wines can be paired with plenty of drinking occasions. Because of their sweetness, fortified wines are perfectly paired with dessert alongside rich cream-based, chocolate desserts or cakes and patisserie.
They also make a great pairing to cheese with their sweet notes complementing cheese beautifully.
Dry fortified wines such as sherries are also great to enjoy before a meal as an aperitif or with appetizers. Pairing these with antipasti or tapas are age-old pairings perfect for fortified wines.
Learn more about food and wine pairings in this article.
Storing fortified wine
Store fortified wines in dark storage at a stable temperature. Sherry should not be stored for a long time after bottling, however, sweeter styles can be kept for ages depending on their sugar level. The sweeter the wine, the longer the shelf life.
After opening a bottle of dessert wine, you should consume it in two to seven days, unless it is vermouth which can be kept for three months. Marsala and Port can last for four to five weeks if sealed properly.
In summary: Guide to fortified wine
I hope this guide to fortified wine has inspired you to give it a go. As we head into Winter in Australia it is the perfect time to enjoy a warming glass of fortified wine with a nice dessert, or simply after dinner. There are so many ways to enjoy these wines, and even more styles to discover!