A fortified wine is a wine whose fermentation has been stopped by adding a spirit. Such a process keeps a high sugar level. So fortified wines are generally served as an aperitif or at the end of a meal with cheese and dessert. Let us set off to discover fortified wine.
What is a fortified wine?
A fortified wine refers to a wine to which a spirit is added. This process puts an end to the alcoholic fermentation. It thus keeps a high level of sugar. There are two types of fortified wine: vin doux naturel and vin de liqueur. The difference between them lies in the moment when the fermentation is stopped. Among the fortified wines, we find: Pineau des Charentes, Banyuls, Rivesaltes, Maury, Port and Muscat. Fortified wines are often aged in barrels. This process lets these wines develop a very interesting aromatic palette.
How do you make a fortified wine?
The question of how to make a fortified wine often comes up. We talk about it, by the way, in the Club episode on how to make wine. That said, there are two main techniques for carrying out fortification. Fortification refers to stopping the fermentation in order to keep the residual sugars. These two techniques correspond to the two families of fortified wine:
- For vins doux naturels, the alcohol is added during fermentation. In that sense, the fermentation has been able to start and is stopped by adding the spirit. The definition of vins doux naturels can be found in article 416 of the French general tax code.
- For vins de liqueur, the alcohol is added at the start of fermentation. In that sense, vin de liqueur keeps all the sugar of the grape because fortification is carried out before the fermentation has even been able to start. So the alcohol level within vin de liqueur depends only on that of the spirit added.
Where does fortified wine come from?
The history of fortified wines goes back many years. We find the first traces of fortified wines in the 13th century. It was Arnaud de Villeneuve who is said to have found the technique of fortification. It made it possible to improve the transport of wines. What is more, another legend tells that, in the 16th century, a worker poured new wine into a barrel that still contained Cognac. If one thing is certain, though, it is that the cradle of fortified wine lies around the Mediterranean basin. So you can set off to discover fortified wines and travel along the shores of the Mediterranean.
Which fortified wine should you choose?
There is a great diversity of fortified wines. They are all very different from one another. So asking “which fortified wine should you choose?” could be like asking “which red wine should you choose?”. The right answer depends on your tastes and on what you feel like discovering. That said, we are not going to abandon you just like that. So, on the vin doux naturel side, you can taste: Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Muscat de Frontignan, Banyuls and Rivesaltes. These tastings will give you a very lovely overview of the landscape of vins doux naturels in France. What is more, if you would like to discover vins de liqueur, Pineau des Charentes is one of the most emblematic bottles. You can also turn to Floc, Pommeau or Macvin. As a result, you will have gathered that fortified wine still has lovely surprises and lovely tastings in store for you. Original, it lets you express an aromatic palette different from the one we currently know, and you should have a real treat.
