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

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

So what is fortified wine? Fortified wines are those that have had additional alcohol added to them by a grape spirit. This increases the alcohol content of the wine, 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, and the Barossa and McLaren Vale in South Australia. Below, we get to know four styles of Australian fortified wine from 919 Wines, Bimbadgen and Lillypilly Estate. Priced between $35–50, 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, maple syrup and 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 drunk 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 3 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

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 harmonizes 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