8 of the Strongest Wine Styles (Best Bottles, ABV, Prices)

Most traditional wine styles have an alcohol content of around 10-14%.

But, if you like that extra buzz from your glass of wine, you’ll be delighted to know that there are wines in the range of 15-20% ABV as well!

To put it in perspective, that’s about 4-5 times stronger than beer (regular beer is about 4-5% ABV) and just lighter by half compared to hard liquor like rum and vodka (around 40% ABV.)  We’ve compiled 8 of the strongest wine styles, some great wine bottles, and food pairings for you to try. We’re also going to cover other medium and low alcohol wine styles and how strong wines are made.

The 8 Strongest Wine Styles (Including Wine Recommendations, Food Pairings)

Here are some of the strongest wines you can stack up for your next party:

1. Zinfandel

Zinfandel has an alcohol content of around 14-15.5% ABV. This red wine is full-bodied and rich with high tannin levels and spicy dark fruit and black cherry notes. Zinfandel is mainly produced in the United States (California), Australia, and Italy. 

It pairs well with various Indian cuisine dishes, barbecued stakes, and even chocolate desserts like cakes, muffins, and brownies.

Best wines:

• 2019 Turley Wine Cellars Hayne Vineyard Zinfandel ($120)

• 2018 Hartford Family Winery Hartford Highwire Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel ($54)

2. Shiraz

Shiraz (the Australian name for Syrah wine) is a full-bodied red wine with a plush tannin mouthfeel and 14-15% ABV. This dry wine has opulent fruity aromas and black cherry, dark fruit, and oak flavor hints. 

Pair a glass of strong Shiraz with spicy foods and savory meat dishes like smoked ribs and grilled beef.

Best wines:

• 2013 Langmeil Winery 'Pure Eden' Shiraz ($94)

• 2015 Yellow Tail The Reserve Shiraz ($18)

3. Chardonnay

Some of the strongest Chardonnay wines (with 14-15% ABV) come from California, Chile, and Australia.

Chardonnay wines vary from lean and refreshing with citrus flavors (unoaked) to buttery and creamy with tropical fruit hints (oaked.) 

Most Chardonnay wines have great acidity and pair well with seafood appetizers, lean fish meats, and roast chicken.

Best wines:

• 2019 Aubert Wines Lauren Vineyard Chardonnay ($234)

• 2018 Trapiche Terroir Series Finca El Tomillo Chardonnay ($32)

4. Muscat

Muscat is made with very sweet grapes and has an alcohol content of 15%. This sweet wine has a rich, fruity taste with notes of ripe peach, orange blossom, and tropical fruit. 

Muscat is a great pair to various desserts, dishes with sweet sauces, and you can even sip on it as an aperitif.

Best wines:

• 2019 Quady Winery Orange Muscat Essensia ($33)

• 2020 J. Vidal-Fleury Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Reserve ($28)

5. Sherry

This is a Spanish fortified wine with 15-20% ABV. Sherry is made in various styles, from light to dark-colored white wine and even dessert wine styles. This wine is made with the Palomino grape variety and reveals a rich floral fragrance. 

Pair a glass of Sherry with sushi, lean meats, nuts, and Manchego cheese.

Best wines:

• 2019 Gonzalez Byass Anada Palo Cortado Sherry ($150)

• Williams & Humbert Dry Sack Medium Sherry ($17)

6. Marsala

Marsala is a fortified wine hailing from Sicily and has an alcohol content of around 20%. The wine has great dried fruit, honey, and licorice notes. 

It pairs well with fruits, blue cheese, and pastries.

Best wines:

• 1988 Marco De Bartoli Marsala Vergine Riserva ($145)

• 2002 Cantine Florio Baglio Marsala Vergine ($50)

7. Port

This Portuguese fortified wine has around 20% ABV. This sweet wine is usually aged in oak barrels, where it develops its rich fruity and nutty taste. 

Port wine pairs well with various cheeses, dark chocolate, creme brulee, and salted nuts.

Best wines:

• 2017 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port ($103)

• 2016 Cockburn's Vintage Port ($80)

8. Madeira

Madeira is another fortified wine from Portugal with an alcohol content of 20%. It is made from five different Portuguese grape varieties and has a great flavor profile with nuts, dried fruit, and caramel notes.

Pair this rich wine with sushi, salmon, creamy cheese, and fruity desserts.

Best wines:

• 2000 D'Oliveiras Verdelho Vintage Madeira ($84)

• 1995 Blandy's Colheita Verdelho ($107)

How is High Alcohol Content Wine Made?

During fermentation, the natural yeasts start feeding on the grape sugar and produce alcohol as a byproduct. 

Some of the strongest wines are made by using:

• Very sweet grapes: Sweeter grapes produce stronger wine. That’s because there is more sugar that can be converted into alcohol. 
• Special yeast: In the past, winemakers could not produce very strong wines (above 13% ABV) because the yeast would die in a highly alcoholic environment. Nowadays, there are yeast strains that can easily survive in a more alcoholic environment and can convert sugar into alcohol to around 20% ABV.
• Fortification: Fortification is the process of adding distilled alcohol to wine, which significantly increases its alcohol content. Fortified wines are also very sweet since the fermentation process is halted earlier, leaving more residual sugar in the wine.

Now, if you’d like something a bit lighter, we have plenty of options below.

Medium- and Low-Alcohol Wines

If you’re looking for wines with more balanced alcohol content, check out these:

1. Medium-High Alcohol Wines (13.5%–15% ABV)

These wines are great if you are looking for higher alcohol content wines (but not the strongest ones):

2. Medium Alcohol Wines (11.5%–13.5% ABV)

These are some great options if you want a slightly boozy drink:

If you want to have bigger wine servings without feeling tipsy, go for these lighter wines.

3. Medium-Low Alcohol Wines (10–11.5% ABV)

These wines can give you a very subtle buzz - just enough to get you in the right mood:

4. Low Alcohol Wines (Below 10% ABV)

If you want a super light wine, go for some of these options:

Get Some of the Finest Wines For Your Next Celebration

If you’re one of the wine drinkers who likes a strong wine to get into the festive mood, try some of the amazing wines we’ve suggested. You can also experiment with some other lighter wines and see which wine type suits you best.

Now, if you want to add a bottle or two of fine wine to your portfolio - check out the Vinovest website. The AI-based platform will let you buy, store, and sell thousands of different wines from around the world with just a few clicks of your mouse!

Vinovest allows you to sell your wine whenever you want. However, you should note that fine wine usually peaks in value after 5-20 years. 

But here’s the good news - our advisors will guide you on the best liquidity options and the best time to sell. They’ll also work with you so you can maximize your returns - no matter the market conditions.