🍷 Málaga

Málaga is a sweet wine from Andalusia in southern Spain. It is made around the city of Málaga on the Mediterranean coast. It is often fortified: grape spirit is added, and the wine becomes stronger and sweeter.

The main grapes are Muscat of Alexandria and Pedro Ximénez. The grapes are sometimes dried in the sun to make them sweeter, as for the naturally sweet vino dulce. Then the juice ferments only part way, and the spirit stops fermentation. The wine finishes in barrels.

There are different kinds: from pale and light to dark, thick and almost black. The taste of dark Málaga is raisin, fig, chocolate and caramel. There are dry wines too, although the sweet ones are more famous.

Málaga is close to other sweet wines of Spain, for example wine from Pedro Ximénez, and belongs to the fortified wines. In the 19th century it was widely known across Europe, and today it is regaining popularity. It is served with desserts, cheese and nuts.