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Last Updated: Mar 6, 2026Marsala
Marsala
Marsala is a fortified wine produced from indigenous grapes like Grillo, Inzolia and Catarratto in the region surrounding Marsala in Sicily, Italy. It is fortified with grape spirits and typically has 15-20% alcohol by volume. It is a DOC certified wine, classified by color into Oro (gold), Amber (amber) and Rubino (ruby). Marsala ranges from dry styles which are used for making rich sauces, to sweeter versions drunk as dessert wines. Common tasting notes include brown sugar, vanilla, tamarind and stewed apricot.
See Also
Fortified Wine
Fortified wine is a style of wine to which a distilled spirit (usually brandy) has been added, resulting in a higher alcohol content (15-22%). The spirits are either added during fermentation to create sweet wines like Port, or after fermentation to craft dry wines like Sherry.
Tawny Port
Tawny Port is a sweet fortified wine from Portugal's Duoro Valley. It is aged in small oak barrels which encourage more oxygen interaction, causing the color to shift from red to brownish amber and creates a caramelized taste.
Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino is a full bodied 100% Sangiovese red wine made exclusively in Tuscany, Italy. It is strictly regulated under DOCG rules, renowned for its high acidity, high tannins and noteworthy aging potential.
Organic Wine
Organic wine is made from grapes grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, according to the principles of organic farming.
Port
Port wine is a sweet, fortified wine from Douro Valley, Portugal. It is created by halting the fermentation process early by the addition of brandy, resulting in a rich, high alcohol wine.
Sauternes
Sauternes is a French wine from Bordeaux, particularly the Sauternes and Barsac regions. Sauternes wine is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea (noble rot).
Sec
'Sec" refers to the French word for "dry" and its meaning in wine varies depending on the wine type. In still wines, sec wines have very little residual sugar (less than 4 g/L), while in sparkling wines and Champagne, "sec" indicates an off dry or slightly sweet style with 17-35 g/L of residual sugar.
Amarone
Amarone della Valpolicella is a full bodied dry red wine from Veneto in Italy. It is famous for its high alcohol, bold tannins, low acidity and complex flavors of dried cherry, chocolate and spice.
