Fortified wine: Difference between revisions

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A fortified wine is a wine to which additional alcohol has been added, the most common additive being brandy (a spirit distilled from wine).

The original reason for fortification was to preserve wines, as the higher alcohol level and additional sweetness help to preserve the wine (when supplemental alcohol is added before fermentation finishes, it kills the yeast and leaves residual sugar). Even though other preservation methods exist, the fortification process survives, as consumers have developed tastes for wines preserved this way.

Common fortified wines include:

Fortified wines must be distinguished from spirits made from wine. While both have increased alcohol content, spirits are the result of a process of distillation; while fortified wines have spirits added to them. Fortified wines generally have an alcohol content between that of wines and spirits.

Fortified wines are legally called dessert wines in the U.S. but are called liqueur wines in Europe.

American "Dessert" Wines

Fortified wines of minimal price and quality have a reputation as the intoxicant of choice among the underage and poor. They are typically fortified with grape alcohol. The most popular beverages typically included in this category are Thunderbird, MD 20/20, Cisco, Night Train, and Wild Irish Rose. Buckfast Tonic Wine, Boone's Farm and formerly Ripple have similar reputations, though Ripple is no longer produced. Typical ingredients include added sugars, artificial colorings and flavorings. Most such wines have harsh flavors and are not favored by more typical wine drinkers.

See also: Pruno

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 ==American "Dessert" Wines==
-Fortified wines of minimal price and quality have a reputation as the intoxicant of choice among the underage and poor; they are often known as "bum wines", due to their association with people who experience [[homelessness]]. They are typically fortified with grape alcohol. The most popular beverages typically included in this category are [[Thunderbird (wine)|Thunderbird]], [[MD 20/20]], [[Cisco (wine)|Cisco]], [[Night Train (wine)|Night Train]], and [[Wild Irish Rose]]. [[Buckfast Tonic Wine]], [[Boone's Farm]] and formerly [[Ripple (wine)|Ripple]] have similar reputations, though Ripple is no longer produced.   Typical ingredients include added [[sugar]]s, artificial colorings and [[artificial flavor|flavorings]].  Most such wines have harsh flavors and are not favored by more typical wine drinkers.
+Fortified wines of minimal price and quality have a reputation as the intoxicant of choice among the underage and poor. They are typically fortified with grape alcohol. The most popular beverages typically included in this category are [[Thunderbird (wine)|Thunderbird]], [[MD 20/20]], [[Cisco (wine)|Cisco]], [[Night Train (wine)|Night Train]], and [[Wild Irish Rose]]. [[Buckfast Tonic Wine]], [[Boone's Farm]] and formerly [[Ripple (wine)|Ripple]] have similar reputations, though Ripple is no longer produced.   Typical ingredients include added [[sugar]]s, artificial colorings and [[artificial flavor|flavorings]].  Most such wines have harsh flavors and are not favored by more typical wine drinkers.
 :''See also: [[Pruno]]''