Wine & Dine Practice Exam

Fortified wines are wines that have had a spirit added to increase alcohol content and influence sweetness. Port, from Portugal, is typically sweet and high in alcohol, because fermentation is stopped early and fortified with a grape spirit, preserving sweetness and boosting strength. Sherry, from Spain, spans a spectrum from dry to sweet and includes oxidative or aged styles, such as Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez. This pairing reflects two fortified wines with distinct characteristic highlights: Port’s pronounced sweetness and high alcohol, and Sherry’s wide range of sweetness levels and aging styles. The other options misstate typical profiles (for example, Port isn’t generally dry; Madeira isn’t normally sparkling; Marsala isn’t universally dry; Sherry can have sugar in its sweeter styles).