Fortified Wine
Fortified Wine
Fortified wine refers to a style of wine to which a distilled spirit (usually brandy) has been added, resulting in a higher alcohol content (15-22%). The spirit is either added during fermentation to create sweet wines like Port, or after fermentation to craft dry wines like Sherry. Fortified wines are served before meals as aperitifs or as dessert wines and also add depth to cooking, where they are used in sauces and soups.
See Also
Porto
Porto is the official name for Port. It is a a sweet, fortified red wine made from traditional grapes like Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesca, Touriga Nacional and others in Duoro Valley, Portugal.
Rosé
Rosé is a type of wine that is made from red grapes that gains its signature pink color through brief contact with the grape skins. Rosé combines the crispness of white wine with the red fruit flavors of red wine, featuring notes of red fruit, flowers, citrus and melon.
Blend
A blend is the combination of two or more different grape varieties, vineyard parcels, fermented wines or vintages to create a more balanced, complex and consistent wine.
Marsala
Marsala is a fortified wine produced from indigenous grapes in Sicily, Italy. It is fortified with grape spirits and typically has 15-20% alcohol by volume.
Cava
Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine produced in Catalonia using the traditional method just like Champagne. It is typically dry, with zesty citrus and apple flavors.
Doux
Doux is the French term for "sweet", representing the highest and sweetest classification level in French wine (>50 g/L residual sugar).
Cristal Champagne
Cristal Champagne is the flagship cuvée of the champagne house Louis Roederer, famously known as the world's first luxury champagne. It was created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II, the tsar of Russia.
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.