Fortified wines are often sipped as aperitifs or digestifs, and their higher alcohol content makes them suitable for aging. The fortification process also provides stability, allowing these wines to withstand changes in temperature and oxidation over time.

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Mutage

Mutage is a technique for making sweet wines. It involves addition of alcohol to the must so that the fermentation process is prematurely stopped. Most yeasts die when the alcohol is 13–15%. By stopping the fermentation of sugars, a sweet wine is achieved.

This technique is used to make port wine and other sweet wines with high alcohol content.

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Port Wine

Port from the Douro Valley in Portugal, is known for its rich, sweet, and complex flavors. Various styles include Ruby, Tawny, Vintage, and Late Bottled Vintage.

• Ruby
• Tawny
• Vintage
• Colheita
• LBV Port
• White Port

Other Port Styles

• Banyuls (France)
• Maury Doux (France)

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Sherry

Sherry from the Jerez region of Spain, comes in a range of styles from dry to sweet. Fino and Manzanilla are dry Sherries, while Amontillado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez are richer and sweeter.

Dry Sherry

• Fino
• Amontillado
• Oloroso

Sweet Sherry

• Pale Cream
• Medium
• Cream

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Madeira

Madeira from the island of Madeira undergoes a unique aging process, that involves exposure to heat, that gives the wine with a distinctive flavor profile that ranges from dry to sweet with nutty and caramelized notes.

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Marsala

Marsala from Sicily, is a fortified wine commonly used in cooking, but it is also enjoyed as a beverage. It comes in various dry, semi-dry, and sweet styles.

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Vermouth

Vermouth originated in Italy, is flavoured with various roots, flowers, herbs, and spices.

Examples:

• Aperol
• Campari
• Cinzano Rosso
• Cinzano Bianco
• Martini Rosso
• Martini Bianco
• Noilly Prat

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Vin Doux Naturel

Vin Doux Naturel is a French fortified wine from Languedoc-Roussillon and Southern Rhône.

Mutage is carried out during the fermentation by the addition of 95% spirit.

White versions are made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains or Muscat of Alexandria grapes.

Red versions are made from with Grenache as the main grape.

Roussillon has 80% of the Vin Doux Naturel production with the following appellations;

• Banyuls (Red)
• Maury Doux (Red)
• Muscat de Rivesaltes (White)
• Rivesaltes
• Grand Roussillon

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Rutherglen (Australia)

Rutherglen Muscat and Rutherglen Topaque are fortified sweet wines from the Rutherglen wine region in Victoria, Australia.

They are both highly regarded for their unique production methods and deep, complex flavors.

Both wines are celebrated for their ability to age gracefully in barrel, producing a rich, concentrated experience. They are enjoyed as dessert wines and pair well with blue cheeses, chocolate desserts, or as a delightful sipper on their own.

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Rutherglen Muscat

• Primarily made from Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge grapes (aka Brown Muscat).

• The grapes are harvested very ripe, then fortified with grape spirit, which stops fermentation and retains natural sugars. The wine is aged in a warm, oxidative environment, which develops its intense, layered flavors.

• Known for its rich, intense sweetness with notes of raisin, caramel, toffee, and dried fruits, alongside hints of spice and nuts. It often has a floral character due to the Muscat grape’s aromatic profile.

• Appearance: Dark amber to mahogany, with older Muscats being darker.

Rutherglen Muscat Classifications

Rutherglen Muscat is classified in stages. Each level represents more time in barrel.

• Rutherglen Muscat (age 3-5 years).
  Light and subtle richness with distinctive raisin flavour.
  180-240 grams sugar per litre.

• Classic Rutherglen Muscat (age 6-10 years).
  Rich and complex flavour with hints of spice and wood-aged characters.
  200-280 grams sugar per litre.

• Grand Rutherglen Muscat (age 11- 19 years).
  Intense depth of flavour with dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, fruit cake, caramel and butterscotch.
  270-400 grams sugar per litre.

• Rare Rutherglen Muscat (age 20+ years).
  Equally complex and intense with notes of dried fruit notes, sweet spice, caramel, nuts, and butterscotch.
  270-400 grams sugar per litre.

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Rutherglen Topaque

• Made from Muscadelle grapes, historically referred to as "Tokay" in Australia.

• Similar production process as Muscat. Topaque grapes are harvested at high ripeness, fortified to retain sweetness, and aged in a warm, oxidative setting that enhances complexity.

• Topaque tends to be slightly lighter than Muscat but still rich and complex. It exhibits flavors of honey, toffee, malt, tea leaf, and a more subdued floral note. Over time, it develops characteristics of butterscotch, caramel, and roasted nuts.

• Aging & Classification: Like Muscat, Rutherglen Topaque is categorized as Rutherglen, Classic, Grand, or Rare, with increasing intensity and concentration in each level.

• Appearance: A lighter amber to golden-brown color, becoming darker and richer with age.

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List of Fortified Wines