MAINWine
Port - Sherry - Marsala - Vermouth - Madeira
Have a sweet tooth?
All of the fortified wines (meaning that brandy has been added to them after fermentation) are
by their nature thick and smooth in texture and sweet in taste.
However, don't let those qualities lull you into thinking fortified wines are lightweights. With a near-20 percent alcohol content, fortified wines also pack a punch.
While they
are not usually served with meals due to their strong flavor, these wines may complement food in other ways.
A dash of Marsala wine, for example, is a good addition to simmering meat dishes and most famously incorporated into savory Chicken Marsala. Port wine is also traditionally used as mouth-watering wine reduction sauce dribbled over filet mignon.
For imbibing purposes, fortified wines are best served during the dessert course, or after dinner when relaxed conversation and a good sipping wine -- neat or over ice -- can be enjoyed
at a leisurely pace.
Like French Champagne's strict control over their product name, wine beverages dubbed sherry can only come from Spain, and port from the Douro
in Portugal ....
More about fortified wines around the Web:
Into Wine - Enjoying Port - Check out the
full port report -- with an illustrated history, an overview of the
Duoro Valley region, pronunciation guide, lists of the major port
groups and houses, descriptions of the different vintages plus
tips on serving and storage, and more on Marsala and other fortified
wines.
Port
Wine - A good read with an illustrated narrative describing
the fermentation process, taste notes for various port varieties,
a list of authorized red grapes used in its making and a port
glossary of terms.