Vins de liqueur

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Vins de liqueur are sweet fortified wines made in France. The term vin de liqueur is also the adopted phrase of the European Union to refer to all fortified wines. The French wines known as vins de liqueur are the Pineau des Charentes of Cognac, the Floc de Gascogne of Armagnac and the Macvin du Jura of Jura. These wines are similar to Vin doux naturel wines but are fortified prior the fermentation process and are sweeter with more flavor influence from the added grape spirits.^[1]

[edit] Process

Prior to fermentation the grape must is fortified with distilled grape spirits until the solution reaches an alcohol level of 16-22%. The resulting wine is left with a high level of residual sugar since most strains of yeast can not reproduce in such a hostile environment.^[1]

[edit] Regional styles

The wines are often served as an apéritif and has been adapted to many regional styles and grape varieties. The grapes of the Champagne region have been used for the production of Ratafia. The Rhône makes a wine known as Rinquinquin and the Languedoc wine region produces a local vin de liqueur called Cartagène.^[1]

[edit] References