how much alcohol volume does fortified wine have
A Verdelho from Molly Dooker will contain a whopping 16% alcohol. Even many New World Pinot Noir wines now sit comfortably in the 14-15% range. Many examples of California Zinfandel or Australian Grenache will creep up to 17%, and since fortified wines like Port start at 17% alcohol, this is rather interesting, to say the least. If you notice a heat on the back of your palate when tasting a wine, or if the wine has a spirit-like aroma, these sensory characteristics are coming from the alcohol in the wine.