Marsala Wine

Marsala wine is one of Sicily’s most famous wines. Marsala wine was first made in the city of Marsala, which the wine is named after. This is a fortified wine that usually has an alcohol content of about 20 percent. Marsala wine is made from grapes that are native to the region. These grapes are Grillo, Inzolia or Catarratto.

Marsala wine for more then a century was considered a wonderful drinking wine until the 1950’s when it became popular in cooking. Marsala wine found its self stuck in the cabinet next to the cooking Sherry and was then only used for sauces. Many Americans do not know that this so called cooking wine was once a sought after wine paired with desserts or served with appetizers in its heyday.

Now with many Americans rediscovering the joys of wine, Marsala is now coming out of the kitchen and back into wines glasses. Marsala wine is now made in three different types, golden, amber and ruby. Like many other wines they can vary from sweet to dry. There are also variants in the aging process. The “Fine” grade is Marsala that is aged for one year. The “Superiore” Marsala is aged for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years. “Superiore Riserva” or sometimes called “Riserva” is aged for four to six years. The “Vergine” grade of Marsala is aged for five to seven years. There are many Sicilian wineries that specialize in making Marsala wine. Some of the wine houses even age this elegant wine in oak casks dating back to the 1860’s.

Marsala wine is a fortified wine; this means that the wine has hard alcohol added to it. With this being said, fortified wine can be opened and will not go bad in a matter of days like other types if wine. However, the flavor will deteriorate slightly after about three to four months. Marsala wine also does not have to be stored in the refrigerator, but it should be kept in a cool dark place.

With the many varieties and ages of Sicilian Marsala wine, it is making a come back as a great table wine. Next time visiting the local wine store, check out some of the higher grades of Marsala wine and ask for a tasting. After all, Marsala wine is not just for cooking anymore and deserves to be served in a glass.