Why Tawny Is the Perfect Dessert Wine for Winter
Winter calls for indulgence. As the nights grow longer and the temperatures drop, we reach for comfort—woolly socks, glowing firelight, hearty meals… and a glass of something rich, warming, and full of character.
This July, our Wine of the Month is one made for exactly that moment: Witches Falls NV Classic Tawny.
Decadent, generous, and endlessly complex, Tawny is the perfect dessert wine for winter. A slow unraveling of flavour built for firesides, dark chocolate, and unhurried evenings.
Why Tawny Belongs to Winter
Tawny is warmth you can sip. Its mellow sweetness and layers of toffee, spice, and roasted nuts feel like a cosy blanket for your taste buds. It makes sense when the air is crisp, you’re lingering over dinner, or when you’re curled up with a book.
A Noble Lineage
Tawny traces its noble bloodline to Portugal’s Douro Valley. In the 1600s, British wine merchants added grape spirit to preserve wine for long sea voyages, halting fermentation and locking in natural sweetness. Over time, Tawny evolved—aging in oak casks where oxygen transformed youthful ruby hues into amber gold, and fresh fruit into rich layers of caramel, walnut, and spice.
Australia’s Fortified Royalty
Fortified wines like Tawny weren’t just a trend—they were the foundation of Australia’s wine industry. In the 1800s, winemakers in South Australia and Victoria were filling barrels with Muscat, Topaque, and Port-style wines. These robust fortifieds travelled well, aged beautifully, and became Australia’s first wine exports—our signature to the world for much of the 20th century.
Witches Falls NV Classic Tawny
“Classic” isn’t just a flattering term. In Australia, it’s an official classification—honouring tradition, extended maturation (often 5–10 years or more in oak), and the intricate blending that gives Tawny its remarkable depth and complexity.
Our Classic Tawny is opulent and full-bodied, with an amber glow that hints at the depth within. On the palate, it delivers:
Dried orange, tangerine peel, and raisins—a warm embrace of spiced fruitcake in liquid form
Layers of mellow oak, burnt toffee, and roasted nuts
A long, luscous finish laced with caramelosed fruit and toasted hazelnut
What to Pair with Tawny
Looking for the best food pairing for a dessert wine like Tawny? Try it with:
Sticky date pudding or pecan pie
Aged cheddar, blue cheese, or Stilton with walnuts
Dark chocolate truffles or salted caramel desserts
Espresso and a firelight flicker
Surprisingly, Tawny also works with savoury dishes like spiced nuts, charcuterie, or slow-cooked meats such as beef cheeks or lamb shanks.
Meet the Fortified Family
Our NV Classic Tawny may be the star this winter, but there’s more to discover in the Witches Falls fortified cellar:
2004 Classic Solera Muscat: Sticky and rich with raisin and butterscotch depth
2020 Fortified Tinta Barroca: Earthy, plush, with blackberry and maple warmth
2021 Fortified Touriga: Lush, intense, with wild berries, cherry, and a hint of liquorice
Why You Should Sip NV Classic Tawny This July
Our NV Classic Tawny is timeless—a wine that feels like it belongs to another era but fits beautifully into today’s winter rituals. With its rich layers and comforting warmth, it’s the perfect way to elevate a cosy night in.
And right now, it’s our July Wine of the Month.
So come and taste it at the Witches Falls cellar door, or order a bottle online to make your winter nights a little warmer, sweeter, and more memorable.