Fortified Wine

Fortified wine is one of the most diverse categories in the wine world, ranging from bone-dry and intensely savoury to rich, complex and sweet. Fortification involves adding grape spirit during or after fermentation, a technique that helped create some of the world's great historic wine styles. Our selection brings together distinctive Port, Sherry and Madeira from small producers, chosen for character, complexity and individuality.

  • Niepoort L.B.V Port 2020

    Niepoort L.B.V Port 2020

    Niepoort L.B.V Port 2020

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £29.95
    £29.95
  • Niepoort Cursted Port with a white label on a white background

    Niepoort Crusted Port

    Niepoort Crusted Port

    75cl | ABV: 19%

    £33.95
    £33.95
  • Porto Niepoort Colheita 2008 Port bottle on a white background

    Niepoort Colheita Port 2008

    Niepoort Colheita Port 2008

    75cl | ABV: 20%

    £52.95
    £52.95
  • Niepoort 10Y.O Tawny

    Niepoort 10Y.O Tawny

    Niepoort 10Y.O Tawny

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £45.95
    £45.95
  • Niepoort 'Tawny Dee' Tawny Port

    Niepoort 'Tawny Dee' Tawny Port

    Niepoort 'Tawny Dee' Tawny Port

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £24.95
    £24.95
  • Niepoort 'Ruby Dum' Ruby Port

    Niepoort 'Ruby Dum' Ruby Port

    Niepoort 'Ruby Dum' Ruby Port

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £24.95
    £24.95
  • Diatomists Fino Balbaína Sherry

    Diatomists Fino Balbaína Sherry

    Diatomists Fino Balbaína Sherry

    37.5ml | ABV: 15%

    £15.95
    £15.95
  • Bottle of Oloroso Sherry Jerez from Diatomists, with yellow circle depicting fossil on label and yellow wax on cap

    Diatomists Oloroso

    Diatomists Oloroso

    37.5cl | ABV: 19%

    £19.95
    £19.95
  • Barbeito 'Sir Ceal' Madeira 5Y.O

    Barbeito 'Sir Ceal' Madeira 5Y.O

    Barbeito 'Sir Ceal' Madeira 5Y.O

    75cl | ABV: 19.0%

    £41.95
    £41.95
  • Diatomists Amontillado

    Diatomists Amontillado

    Diatomists Amontillado

    37.5cl | ABV: 18.5%

    £19.95
    £19.95
  • Grahams 20 Years Old Tawny Port

    Grahams 20 Years Old Tawny Port

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    Grahams 20 Years Old Tawny Port

    75cl | ABV: 20.0%

    £44.95
    £44.95
    Sold out
  • Fortmans Rich and Sweet Port Bottle on a White Background

    Fortmans Rich & Sweet

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    Fortmans Rich & Sweet

    75cl | ABV: 14.4%

    £8.45
    £8.45
    Sold out
  • Ferreira LBV Port

    Ferreira LBV Port

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    Ferreira LBV Port

    75cl | ABV: 15.9%

    £28.95
    £28.95
    Sold out
  • Ferreira Dona Antonia 10 Year Old Tawny Port

    Ferreira Dona Antonia 10 Year Old Tawny Port

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    Ferreira Dona Antonia 10 Year Old Tawny Port

    75cl | ABV: 20%

    £30.95
    £30.95
    Sold out
  • Ferreira Ruby Port

    Ferreira Ruby Port

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    Ferreira Ruby Port

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £19.95
    £19.95
    Sold out
  • Diatomists Manzanilla

    Diatomists Manzanilla

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    Diatomists Manzanilla

    37.5cl | ABV: 15%

    £19.95
    £19.95
    Sold out

Fortified Wine Buying Guide

Fortified wine can be confusing because the category includes remarkably different styles. Port is generally rich and fruit-driven, Sherry ranges from completely dry and delicate to intensely sweet, while Madeira combines extraordinary freshness with distinctive oxidative complexity. What connects them is fortification: the addition of grape spirit, although when and how this happens has a major influence on the finished wine.

What style of fortified wine do you enjoy?

If you enjoy rich, fruit-driven wines, Port is a natural place to start, with styles ranging from youthful Ruby and Late Bottled Vintage to complex aged Tawny and Vintage Port. Sherry offers an even broader spectrum, from bone-dry, delicate Fino and Manzanilla to nutty, oxidative Oloroso and intensely sweet Pedro Ximénez. Madeira can range from dry to sweet but is typically defined by remarkable acidity and complex flavours that develop through its distinctive ageing process.

Choosing fortified wine for food

Fortified wines are remarkably versatile at the table. Dry Sherry is excellent with olives, almonds, charcuterie and seafood, while richer styles can accompany mushrooms, mature cheese and slow-cooked dishes. Port is a classic partner for blue cheese, chocolate and nuts, while Madeira can work beautifully with everything from savoury dishes to rich desserts, depending on its level of sweetness.

How fortification changes the wine

Fortification means adding grape spirit to wine, but timing is crucial. In Port, spirit is added before fermentation has finished, leaving natural grape sugar and creating a sweet wine. Many dry Sherries are fortified after fermentation has finished, so little residual sugar remains. Ageing methods then create further differences, from Sherry's flor and oxidative ageing to the heat and oxygen that help give Madeira its extraordinary character and longevity.

Fortified Wine FAQs

What is fortified wine?

Fortified wine is wine to which grape spirit has been added during or after fermentation. The timing of fortification affects the finished style and can produce wines ranging from completely dry to intensely sweet. Port, Sherry and Madeira are among the best-known examples.

Is fortified wine always sweet?

No. Port is generally sweet because it is fortified before fermentation has finished, leaving natural grape sugar in the wine. Sherry can be completely dry or sweet, while Madeira is produced in styles ranging from dry to rich and sweet.

What is the difference between Port, Sherry and Madeira?

Port comes from Portugal's Douro Valley and is generally rich, sweet and fruit-driven. Sherry comes from southern Spain and ranges from pale, bone-dry styles to rich and sweet wines. Madeira comes from the Portuguese island of Madeira and is famous for its high acidity, distinctive ageing methods and exceptional longevity.

How long does fortified wine last once opened?

It depends greatly on the style. Delicate Fino and Manzanilla Sherry are best enjoyed relatively soon after opening, while oxidative Sherries, Tawny Port and Madeira can remain enjoyable considerably longer. Once opened, storing fortified wine somewhere cool and following the producer's guidance is sensible.

Discover distinctive fortified wines from small producers

Sherry Madeira