What are Fortified Wines?
Fortified wines are sweet, high in alcohol and usually red wines; made famous in countries such as Portugal, Spain and France. In the hottest regions of these countries, the grapes become very ripe, making them perfect for crafting fortified wines.
These are simply normal wines that have had their ferment interrupted by the addition of spirit before it is complete, leaving residual sugars in the final wine. It also creates wines that often have an alcohol level of 18% or higher. Two of the most famous fortified wines are Port and Sherry.
Port is a fortified red wine made in the Douro Valley. Its vintage wines, made from a single year, can be suitable for very long aging, many drinking well for 50 years or more. Tawny Port is made from a blend of different vintages and the result is wines that are both complex and made to enjoy as soon as they are released.
Sherry is a fortified white wine, made in Southern Spain from the Palomino grape. These wines are long-aged and blended in large old oak casks, creating a nutty wine, that can be dry or sweet.
Does Australia produce Fortified Wines?
In Australia, we have our own unique style, which can be found among our Collective Preferred range, including Muscats, Topaques and vintage ports, particularly from Rutherglen in Victoria. Muscats and Topaques are blended wines made from a wide range of vintages.
Winemakers often blend small quantities of wines up to 100 years old to craft these wines, resulting in some of the greatest fortified wines in the world.
