Marsala Wine

Marsala wine is a wine produced in the Marsala region of Sicily. It has an interesting quirk, in that the wine produced for export is fortified with extra alcohol, while the product produced for domestic consumption sometimes is not. This is because, in the days when exporting meant a long ship ride, the extra alcohol would help it hold up better. Foreign buyers liked this so much that the practiced continued, even after ship speed increased to the point where it was no longer “necessary” from a technical standpoint.

Another interesting piece of information about Marsala wine is its name. It’s supposedly named after a warlord. It seems that this warlord, Marsala, wanted his troops to fight with more flair, and figured that if they had a bit of a drink before a battle, they would do so. The accuracy of this “history” is a bit suspect, though, considering that the lore concerning the naming of the eponymous region is quite different.

Years ago, Marsala wine was popularly served between the first and second courses of a meal, but modern drinkers prefer it served with cheeses like Roquefort or Parmesan. It is also sometimes enjoyed as a dessert wine. In United States-based restaurants, it is often used in Italian-style cooking. It may be boiled down for sauce, used to fry in, or added to rich desserts.

There are several classes of Marsala wine, distinguished by their amount of sweetness. Some of these classes have different colorations. Oro is golden, Ambra is amber, and Rubino is ruby-colored. There are also classifications based on the amount of aging the wine has undergone. It can be served chilled or at room temperature, depending on its usage. When served with food, it is typically chilled, while as a dessert wine it’s usually presented at room temperature.

With its legendary name origin, and its many classes, Marsala wine is an interesting wine to explore. It will require many dinners to try all the versions—a requirement any wine lover will be glad to fulfill.

In the United States, some popular Marsala brands to check out include Colombo, Florio, and Paul Masson.