Definition: Málaga - 1

A Spanish dessert wine from eastern Andalusia, produced from vineyards located on the sunny slopes of Málaga. The grapes, which are already very sweet when ripe, are spread out on straw mats where the sun ripens them and concentrates their flavour to the maximum. Málaga wine is fortified with brandy after fermentation. Its complex character and sweetness come from the addition of sweet wines, syrups and concentrated musts. It is aged for two to three years in chestnut barrels. The best wines obtained are then aged using the solera system, like sherry. They have exceptional longevity. There are several types of Málaga, from dry to sweet, from pale gold to pale amber or dark amber with a reddish tinge. Of all the wines produced on the Iberian Peninsula, Málaga is going through the most difficult period. The British are no longer the leading importers they once were.