Kinds and Characteristics of Fortified Wines
Wines are some of the most popular drinks in the world. In all important events, ceremonies, rituals and fun sessions, bottles and glasses of wines are almost always present.
There are many different kinds of wines. Fortified wines are one of the most popular kinds. A fortified wine is a sweet kind of wine to which more alcohol amount is added. Most often, the additive used is brandy.
Fortified wines are usually sweeter than most other wines except for dessert wines. It is also more alcoholic than most wines due to the addition of brandy.
The wines are produced by a process called fortification. This process involves the addition of alcohol and sugar to fermented grape juice. The increased amount of alcohol preserves the wines.
The preservation of wine is the original purpose of fortification. The additional alcohol kills the yeast and leaves residual sugar before fermentation is completed. Nowadays, there are other wine preservation methods that are used. However, fortification is still widely used in many wine producing regions in the world. Also, many wine consumers find the taste of fortified wines more pleasant than wines treated with other preservation methods.
It is important to note that fortified wines are not spirits that are made from wine although both have higher alcohol content. Spirits are made by distilling wine, while fortified wines have spirits added to them. The level of alcohol content in fortified wines is midway between that of wines and spirits.
In the
US, fortified wines are legally known as dessert wines. In the European Union, however, they are referred to as liqueur wines. In the UK, laws dictate that they should be called fortified wines to avoid confusion of their sweeter counterparts.
There are several kinds of fortified wines. Sherry is a perfect example. Sherry is first fortified with brandy after fermentation is complete. If it is to be made fino style, a yeast called flor is allowed to grow on the wine.
Port wine is another common example. This fortified wine is done so halfway through fermentation with the addition of distilled grapes spirits. This means that not all sugars are turned into alcohol, leaving a wine with considerable sweetness. Port wine is then stored and aged.
Another common example is Marsala. This wine is made in the region surrounding the city of Marsala in Sicily, hence its name. Instead of using brandy, ethyl alcohol is used as a fortifying agent. This is to ensure that the wine would last during long ocean trips. Marsala wine is used as an aperitif between the first and second courses of a meal.
Try a sip of fortified wines. They are one of the tastiest wines available.
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