What Is Fortified Wine (And Why Did Britain Fall for It)?

A Stronger Sip with a Longer Story

Fortified wine. It sounds like something your grandfather drank in a dusty club chair. And in many cases, he probably did. But look a little closer and you’ll find something richer, more refined, and very, very British.

What Is Fortified Wine?

Simply put, fortified wine is wine with a splash of spirit added — usually brandy. The addition of spirit was originally practical: it helped the wine survive long sea journeys by keeping it stable. What began as a preservation trick soon became a taste for strength and complexity.

Types of Fortified Wine

Fortified wine covers a whole family of drinks:

• Port – deep, rich, and sweet, a staple of British dining tables

• Sherry – ranging from bone dry fino to sweet cream styles, once the toast of Victorian parlours

• Madeira – famously resilient, aged through heat and sea voyages

• Dubonnet – the bittersweet apéritif created in 1840s France, later stocked in the royal drinks cabinet

Each carries a unique flavour, but all share that characteristic warmth, strength, and staying power.

Why Did Britain Fall for Fortified Wine?

Few nations embraced fortified wines like Britain. From the days of naval expeditions to the drawing rooms of Bath and Belgravia, fortified wines became social currency. They were imported, celebrated, and woven into rituals — from the stirrup cup at the hunt to the after-dinner glass by the fire.

Dubonnet, in particular, won lasting fame as the Queen’s favourite cocktail ingredient, mixed with gin over ice with a slice of lemon.

The Decline and Revival

For a while, fortified wine slipped from fashion. Too strong for wine snobs, too unusual for cocktail purists, it lingered quietly at the back of cupboards.

Now, though, fortified wine is back in the spotlight. Bartenders, writers, and drinkers are rediscovering its depth. And brands like G&D are giving it new life.

Fortified Wine in G&D

At G&D, we’ve taken the legacy of fortified wine and bottled it for modern mischief. By blending premium gin with a fortified wine at 22% ABV, we’ve created a cocktail that nods to tradition without living in the past. Strong enough for the field, smooth enough for the fire — it’s familiar, but surprising. Much like the people who drink it.

So next time someone asks what is fortified wine, don’t just explain it. Pour it. Serve chilled, with charm.

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What is fortified wine?

Fortified wine is wine strengthened with added spirit, usually brandy. It was originally created to survive long sea journeys.

What are examples of fortified wines?

Port, Sherry, Madeira, and Dubonnet are all types of fortified wine, each with unique flavour and history.

Is Dubonnet a fortified wine?

Yes. Dubonnet is a French fortified wine with quinine and herbs, once given to soldiers and later enjoyed daily by Queen Elizabeth II.

Why is fortified wine popular in Britain?

Britain embraced fortified wines for their strength and stability, importing them for naval use and social rituals, from dinner parties to the royal household.