Barossa Wines - Fortified Barossa Wines

Fortified Barossa wines are becoming more and more popular with the Australian, and international wine markets. The Barossa Valley has long been producing some excellent fortifides, with some of the great wine making traditions used throughout the region, and the benefit of the great weather which helps to grow rich, deep grapes that, when left on the vine, have a higher level on natural sugar content perfect for producing excellent fortified Barossa wines. Below we have given a brief overview of some of the more popular fortified Barossa wines that are produced.   

·         Tawny:  one of the most renowned tawny ports to come out of Australia is Penfolds Grandfather Liqueur Tawny.  Aged in small oak barrels this is a blend of the finest tawnies to come from Penfolds vines.  Dating back to 1915 this particular tawny offers elegant and rich fruit characters, and is considered to be a proud leader of the Penfolds family of fine wines.  Another exceptional example of tawny fortified Barossa wines is the Seppelt 100 Year Old Para Liqueur Vintage Tawny.  What started out as a grand statement made in 1878 by patriarch Benno Seppelt who believed that this particular tawny was of exceptional quality and therefore would be left to mature for 100 years, ended up as a fine tradition.  Each year, on its 100 year anniversary this exceptional tawny is released.  Considered by many to be one of the world’s finest, the 100 Year Old Para offers powerful and concentrated flavours, with a heady aroma, and intense complexity. 

·         Muscat:  in Australia Muscat is a respected sweet fortified wine, and is one of Australia’s most celebrated fortified wines.  One impressive example of exceptional Barossa Valley fortified Muscat is the Grant Burge 10 Year Old Muscat, offering caramel and fruit aromas with warm and sweet spice flavours.  This is an exceptional Muscat straight from the Grant Burge Barossa vines.  Its sweet flavours come in part from the practise of leaving the grapes to ripen on the vines for an extended period, opening them up to increased levels of natural sugars in the grapes, which when fermented and the alcohol added, increases its intensive flavours.  For such a wine as this, the winemaker has certainly maintained a high level of elegance with this fine fortified Muscat. 

Although not necessarily the most popular of the Barossa wines to be produced, the fortifieds that come from the intense vines of the Barossa Valley are certainly gaining in respect and reputation on the local, national, and international wine markets.  So the next time you take a relaxing wine tasting trip to one of the many enjoyable Barossa Valley cellar doors, make sure you experience some of the great fortified wines that this region produces.  You will enjoy the tasting experience and we are sure that you will learn even more about what exactly goes in to making these wonderful fortified, and we know you will have a great time.