AUSTRALIAN TAWNY PORT WINE
Tawny wine is Australia’s favourite Fortified wine. Originating from Portugal, this style is a traditionally sweet red wine where Brandy has been added before the completion of fermentation. Since the 1990s, only wines made in Portugal can be called Port, and here in Australia, we refer to them as Tawny, Fortified Tawny or Tawny Port.
Tawny’s history in Australia dates back to the 1800s when our first wineries started fortifying export wines to preserve them for long trips back to England. According to Yalumba, “countless bottles of Yalumba Port were enjoyed by the British Raj in India in the late 1800s, and by Sir Douglas Mawson on his Antarctic exploration in 1929.”
The name Tawny comes from the wine’s darker brown or tawny colour, a by-product of the ageing process. The most common varieties used to make Tawny in Australia include Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro and Touriga, and you’ll find some of the best are produced in warmer Australian wine regions, including Rutherglen, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Riverland.
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BEST TAWNY AUSTRALIA
Many of Australia’s wineries craft Tawny wine. Some of the best Australian Tawny is produced by Yalumba, Seppeltsfield, Grant Burge, Château Tanunda, Langmeil, Penfolds, Pfeiffer Estate, Rutherglen Estate and Campbells of Rutherglen, All Saints, and Morris of Rutherglen, d’Arenberg, Coriole, Angove, Chapel Hill, Bleasdale and Haselgrove.
WHAT REGION IN AUSTRALIA PRODUCES THE BEST TAWNY?
The most common varieties used to make Tawny wine in Australia include Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro and Touriga – all varieties that thrive in warm climates. The best Tawny wines are produced in warmer Australian wine regions, including Rutherglen, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Riverland.
RUTHERGLEN TAWNY WINE
A pioneering gold-mining region on the Murray River, Rutherglen is the undisputed capital of Australian fortified wines with leading producers including Pfeiffer Estate, Rutherglen Estate and Campbells of Rutherglen, All Saints, and Morris of Rutherglen crafting some of the country’s best.
BAROSSA VALLEY TAWNY WINE
From its birth in the 1840s, the Barossa Valley grew and flourished on the foundation of Fortified wines. This warm climate provides excellent conditions for full-bodied Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache that dominate the red plantings and are used in the local Tawny wines. Leading producers include Yalumba, Seppeltsfield, Grant Burge, Château Tanunda, Langmeil, and Penfolds.
MCLAREN VALE TAWNY WINE
Winemaking in McLaren Vale commenced in 1844 when Englishman Jon Reynell produced South Australia’s first commercial vintage. Iconic Australian wine names such as Hardy, Hamilton and Osborne also established their vineyards in the south. Some of these original vineyards are now more than 100 years old and continue to produce premium table and Tawny Fortified wines crafted by the likes of d’Arenberg, Coriole, Angove, Chapel Hill, Bleasdale, 919 Wines, and Haselgrove.
RIVERLAND TAWNY WINE
South Australia’s Riverland is the largest wine-producing region in the country, with 1,000 grape growers and 20,600 hectares of vines. With its warm climate and proximity to the Murray River, the region has perfect conditions for growing the rich and ripe red wine varieties that make Riverland Tawny wine so delicious.
Eric Semmler, chief winemaker and co-owner of Riverland’s 919 wines, is one of Australia’s most respected specialist Fortified winemakers. “Our Limited Release Vintage Fortified is made only in the best years when every component is perfect. Our Vintage blends traditional Portuguese and Southern French varieties (Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Durif and Shiraz), giving a layered and complex wine with great depth and length of flavour.”
Other producers of Riverland Tawny include Ricca Terra, Angove and Salena Estate.
WHAT IS TAWNY WINE? WHAT IS TAWNY PORT WINE?
Known as Port in Portugal, where it hails from, Tawny Wine or Tawny Port Wine is a Fortified wine. It can be made from several red varieties, including Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro, and Touriga. During fermentation, Brandy is added, which stops the fermentation and increases the alcohol content, producing around 19 – 22% ABV (alcohol by volume).
Most Tawny is aged in a barrel for several years before it is released and is crafted to be enjoyed immediately. Although it can be kept for some time, it won’t continue to develop.
Find out more about Fortified wines
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PORT WINE AND TAWNY PORT?
Port and Tawny Port are styles of Fortified wine, but only wines made in Portugal can claim the Port name. We must label this Fortified wine in Australia as Fortified Tawny or Tawny.
HOW TO SERVE TAWNY WINE?
Due to its relatively high alcohol content, the standard serving for Tawny is 75ml.
Tawny should be enjoyed as a wine style rather than a spirit. To fully appreciate its rich and complex aromas, Tawny is best served in a tulip-shaped glass which is perfect for concentrating the aromas and flavours.
Tawny is particularly delicious served with hard, salty cheeses like Parmigiano and strong blue cheeses like Stilton, as well as sweet treats like berry pies and chocolate brownies.
Find the perfect glass to enjoy your Tawny wine.
HOW TO STORE TAWNY WINE?
You can cellar Tawny for up to 15 years – make sure you keep it in a cool, dry and stable environment. Remember, Tawny has been aged in barrels for you; some are released up to 50 years old. They won’t develop further in the bottle.
Here are four elemental things to consider if you’re looking to store wine:
1. TEMPERATURE – store between 12 to 14 degrees Celsius all year round
2. HUMIDITY – maintain the level of humidity at about 50%
3. VIBRATION – avoid storing near appliances or other sources of vibration
4. LIGHT – wine stores best in a dark spot
Get more tips on the correct way to store and cellar your Tawny and other wines
IS TAWNY WINE SWEET? IS TAWNY PORT WINE SWEET?
Tawny Wine, also known as Fortified Tawny, is a lusciously sweet and rich dessert wine in which Brandy is added before fermentation.
HOW TO DRINK TAWNY WINE?
Australian Tawny wine is a traditional after-dinner wine. It pairs beautifully with strong, salty cheeses, rich chocolate desserts, and Christmas pudding, and it is also perfect on its own in front of an open fire!
HOW TO BUY TAWNY FROM WINE SELECTORS?
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