🍷 Liqueur wine
An EU category for fortified wines with added spirit or must.
Liqueur wine is the official EU category for fortified wines. It covers wine to which grape spirit, wine distillate or concentrated must has been added during or after fermentation. In everyday speech these are called fortified or dessert wines.
Under EU rules liqueur wine has 15 to 22% alcohol. The spirit stops fermentation, so the wine stays sweet if it is added early. If it is added after fermentation is complete, the wine is dry. It is one of the EU wine categories, alongside sparkling, semi-sparkling and ordinary still wine.
Many famous wines belong here: Port and Madeira from Portugal, Sherry from Spain, Marsala from Sicily, French vins doux naturels such as Banyuls and Maury, and many Muscats. The label may say “vin de liqueur”, “vino generoso” or “vinho licoroso”. These wines are stronger than table wine and are served in small glasses.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Liqueur wine ← similar ← 🍷 Fortified wine → kind of → 🍷 Types of wine → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Fortified wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Fortified wine, 🏷️ EU wine categories
Frequently asked questions
What is liqueur wine?
The EU category for fortified wines with added spirit or concentrated must, at 15 to 22% alcohol.
Which wines count as liqueur wines?
Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala, French vins doux naturels and many sweet Muscats.
Is liqueur wine always sweet?
No. If the spirit is added after fermentation is finished, the wine is dry, like Fino Sherry.
Similar
🍷 Rutherglen Muscat · 🍷 Carcavelos · 🍷 Mavrodaphne of Patras · 🍷 Moscatel de Setúbal · 🍷 Fondillón · 🍷 Mutage
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.