Wine style spotlight: four fortified and sweet wines worth cracking open this Easter

With Easter just around the corner, we're sure you're going to be eating plenty of chocolate and hot cross buns. And what better to pair with it than Australian fortified wine? 

But first off, what is fortified wine?

Fortified wines are wines that have had additional alcohol – usually a neutral grape spirit – added to them. This increases the alcohol content of the wine (to 17-20% ABV), and can also alter the flavour. Typically, grape spirit is added early in the fermentation, leaving the sugar unfermented and thus often resulting in a sweet wine. Occasionally however, the spirit is added at the end of fermentation, creating a dry-style wine like sherry or apera. 

Australian fortified wine has a long history, with notable regions including Rutherglen and Glenrowan in Victoria, the Riverina in New South Wales, Swan Valley in Western Australia, and the Barossa and McLaren Vale in South Australia. Below, we get to know four styles of Australian fortified and sweet wine from 919 Wines, Bimbadgen, Galway Pipe and Lillypilly Estate. Priced between $35–80, there's a range of wines here to cover all your fortified needs. 

919 Wines

Winemaker Eric Semmler shared: After fortifying muscadelle with carefully selected spirit, each vintage is laid down to gently mature in 100-year-old barrels. I love the challenge of producing a vibrant modern style with ‘wow’ factor from these aged components sourced from many vintages – each representing a year in the history of our vineyard. 

How do you approach the winemaking process?  
I aim to capture the aromas and flavours of the variety, vintage and region with each parcel of fruit, and express that in every table or fortified wine. When I blend a fortified wine, I draw on the personality of each parcel to create a complex and richly flavoured wine which is balanced and harmonious, aromatic and lingering, and truly transformative and uplifting. 

Why is this fortified wine perfect for the Easter period? 
Classic Topaque is perfect for mild sunny days, cool crisp nights, the crunch of autumn leaves and the smell of an open fire. We love this wine with maple-smoked salmon or Kassler for a light lunch. It’s particularly delicious with seasonal desserts such as sticky date pudding, pecan pie or apple strudel. 

How is this wine best enjoyed? 
I enjoy a glass of Topaque in front of the chimenea as the dusk draws in at the end of the day from autumn through winter and spring. I serve this at room temperature in thin-walled large wine glasses to savour the wonderful complex aromas as we enjoy a quiet hour. Share with the people you love.

Fortified wine to try this Easter: 919 Classic Topaque Non Vintage

919 Classic Topaque has been matured gently in barrel for many years, giving it deep golden tones with honey and amber tints. The aroma is intensely perfumed, of honey, toffee, fig and rose, with a hint of cold tea and butterscotch. The palate is long, luscious and sweet, tasting of dates, buttered honey, malt, and maple syrup, with a lingering finish. 

RRP $50 | Drink now | Shop this wine | 919wines.com.au

Bimbadgen

Chief Winemaker Richard Done shared: A deliciously moreish fortified – the perfect partner to a cheese board or consumed on its own. Dark burnished mocha in appearance with intoxicating aromas of baked caramel, butterscotch, raisins. The palate exhibits honey, toffee and butterscotch balanced by rancio characters and a long, concentrated finish. The blending for our NV Fortified Verdelho is done by Solera selection, and the oldest wines in Solera have aged for 15 years. 

How do you approach the winemaking process?
Throw out the handbook and treat this bad boy badly. Oxygen is our friend. All the things we do to reduce oxygen in our aromatic whites we don’t do in this wine. Quality fortifying spirit is essential. Solera method, average age increasing over time. Verdelho juice soaked on skins and plunged twice a day for three days until fortification. Basket pressed and sent to oak for maturation. 

Why is this fortified wine perfect for the Easter period?
With rich, fruity flavours and a smooth finish, its sweetness pairs beautifully with Easter treats like chocolate, hot cross buns, or almond cake. It’s a great addition to any Easter wine list. 

How is this wine best enjoyed? 
Our fortified wine is best enjoyed in the cooler months of autumn and winter in a cosy setting – ideally after a festive meal, with dessert or a creamy, nutty soft cheese. Traditionally, it is served in a small wine glass. 

Fortified wine to try this Easter: Bimbadgen Verdelho Non Vintage

Bimbadgen employs the solera method in the production of this fortified verdelho. Verdelho juice is soaked on skins and plunged for three days until fortification. After basket pressing, the wine is sent to oak for maturation. The wine has excellent flavour, depth, richness and brightness, with some pleasing nutty notes. The spirit is a touch on the high side, though this is not an issue when served at cellar temperature. – Toni Paterson, 93 points

RRP $45 | Drink now | Shop this wine | bimbadgen.com.au

Galway Pipe

Winemaker Paul Burnett shared: Aged 20 years (on average), this muscat brings together some of Australia’s finest muscat grapes from premium wine regions including Barossa and Rutherglen – with some parcels exceeding 30 years old. With warm and complex notes of toffee, dark chocolate and dried fruit, it is perfect for celebrating your special moments. Only 800 cases are produced each year. 

How do you approach the winemaking process? 
Galway Pipe Muscat is a carefully assembled blend with an average age of 20 years, sourced from Barossa, Rutherglen and Riverland. It combines aged components, including white and red frontignac and gordo. Precision blending and extended maturation have resulted in a fortified wine that embodies depth, complexity, and the rich tradition of Australian muscat production.

Why is this fortified wine perfect for the Easter period? 
Galway Pipe Muscat is perfect for Easter due to its rich flavours of fig, dried fruits, and dark chocolate, which complement festive treats. Its versatility pairs well with various dishes, and its luxurious taste adds a celebratory touch, making it ideal for sharing with loved ones during this special holiday. 

How is this wine best enjoyed? 
Galway Pipe Muscat is best enjoyed slightly chilled. It pairs wonderfully with desserts like sticky date pudding or chocolate-based treats. 

Fortified wine to try this Easter: Galway Pipe Rare Muscat 20 YO 

A rare muscat with aromas of fig, dried fruits, dark chocolate, and sticky date pudding. Layer after layer of raisin, coffee, toffee, and Christmas cake with a hint of sweet spice on the palate. Luscious and powerful, its smooth texture is elevated by bright acidity, leading to an incredibly long and satisfying finish. 

RRP | $79.99 | Drink now | Shop the wine | galwaypipe.com.au 

Lillypilly Estate

Winemaker Robert Fiumara shared: Our Lillypilly Noble Blend is an award-winning botrytis wine, crafted from semillon, sauvignon blanc, and vermentino. Grown in Riverina’s ideal climate, this Halliday 95-point wine offers luscious pineapple and citrus aromas, beautifully balanced with sweetness and acidity. As a 5-star winery, we take pride in producing wines of exceptional depth, richness, and elegance.

How do you approach the winemaking process? 
We focus on capturing purity and intensity in every bottle. The cool, foggy mornings of Riverina create the perfect conditions for noble rot, enhancing flavour complexity. In the winery, we craft a wine that harmonises rich sweetness with vibrant acidity, ensuring a smooth, lingering finish. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in multiple international trophies and gold medals. 

Why is this fortified wine perfect for the Easter period? 
Easter is a time for indulgence, and our Lillypilly Noble Blend is a perfect festive pairing. With apricot, vanilla, and citrus notes, it complements hot cross buns, fruit-based desserts, and creamy chocolates. Whether enjoyed with Easter brunch or dessert, this multi-award-winning wine is a decadent, crowd-pleasing choice for any celebration.

How is this wine best enjoyed?
Serve chilled (8-10°C) in a small dessert wine glass to highlight its aromatic complexity. Perfect for intimate celebrations or relaxing evenings, this Halliday-rated wine shines on its own or paired with cheese platters, crème brûlée, or rich pâtés. Enjoy it as the grand finale to a memorable meal.

Fortified wine to try this Easter: Lillypilly 2016 Noble Harvest

RRP $35 | Drink now | Shop this wine | store.lillypillywines.com.au

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