Fortified Wine

Wine with grape spirit added to raise the alcohol.

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Definition

Fortified wine is wine with a grape spirit added to raise its alcohol, usually to between 15 and 22 percent. When the spirit is added decides the style: adding it during fermentation leaves sweetness, while adding it afterwards makes a drier wine.

Why it matters for WSET

Fortified wine is a core WSET category. The timing of fortification is a classic exam point that separates Port from Sherry.

Example

Port is fortified during fermentation (sweet); most Sherry is fortified after (dry).

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