Which Wine Has The Most Alcohol?

Like any group of alcoholic drinks, wines vary greatly in alcohol content levels, but coming in on the higher end are varieties that have 14.5% or higher, per Delish. However, according to Delish, wine doesn't naturally carry this high of an alcohol level, so high alcohol wines are fortified with distilled grape brandy to increase their levels. Because this brandy comes from grapes, it won't skew the flavor of the wine much, and it will get the job done faster.

As for which wine reigns supreme as the highest, it's typically marsala, madeira, and port wine varieties, according to Spoon University. All three offer alcohol levels around 20%, and worth noting is that sherry can also get up to this alcohol level, though sherry often ranges from 15 to 20% instead of remaining consistently at 20%.

Having three — or four, depending — options for high alcohol wine lets you play with flavor combinations in unique ways. Every wine pairs well with different foods, so this allows you room to get your drink on with more food options. Marsala is often used in cooking, but is also a sipping wine, while madeira is a sweet dessert wine and port is a wine that pairs incredibly well with cheese (via Spoon University). These are wines you want to save until the end of the day, but they're well worth the wait.