Fortifying spirits

[jvincentiii]

I am new to wine making. Is there a place where I could order and or buy generic spirits for wine fortification?

 

[TonyP]

Welcome to WMT. In terms of your question, I have two thoughts. First, if you're talking about fortified wine made with brandy, the cheapest way to buy it is probably at your local store. For example, you can use a regular Gallo brandy made from grape wine, adding it to a red wine.

Beyond that, though, I haven't seen much here on fortifying, probably because of the cost involved in that process. It would take about 8 bottles of 80 proof (40% alcohol) brandy (750ml each) to raise 5 gallons of wine from 10% alcohol to 20%. That would probably cost over $100 for the brandy, raising the cost of each bottle of wine significantly.

BTW, other alternatives include blackberry, peach, or blueberry brandy added to a similar wine.

 

[Thig]

Most everyone here seems to fortify with brandy. Vodka and everclear have also been used. Tony, I plan to make a Muscadine port this fall if my vines produce, what brandy do you recommend to use to fortify that with.

 

[TonyP]

Thig, I want to get back to you. I'd be guessing and I'm not at all certain what the best choice would be as I'm only slightly familiar with Muscadine. Hopefully someone else can reply.

 

[Thig]

It is basically a sweet dark red grape so I think it would make a good port style wine.

 

[Thig]

I am new to wine making. Is there a place where I could order and or buy generic spirits for wine fortification?

Aguardente is also used to fortify but I don't think it can be purchased easily.