What’s the difference between fortified wine and spirits?
Fortified wine is distinguished from spirits made from wine in that spirits are produced by means of distillation (brandy being a good example), while fortified wine is simply wine to which the spirits have been added. Why are certain spirits or alcohol used and when? The choice of spirits plays an important part in the final product of the fortified wine, as it has influence on the organoleptic qualities of wine. The alcohol used for fortification is produced with a variety of methods and substances – and it can be obtained by the distillation of grape’s pomace, wine, sugar beet, sugar cane, or agricultural byproducts. In some cases are also used wine brandies aged in cask, such as Cognac. The selection is important, because the wine maker does not want the characteristics of the spirits to overshadow those of the wine. So frequently neutral alcohol, lacking organoleptic properties are selected. They would not be desirable on their own for consumption, but serve to showcase the wine’s
