Passito is the Italian term for which type of wine?

Passito is the Italian term for which type of wine?

• A. A dried grape wine
• B. A sparkling wine
• C. A fortified wine
• D. A rosé wine

Answer: (A)

Passito refers to wine made from dried grapes. The grapes are dried (a method called appassimento) to concentrate sugars and flavors before fermentation, yielding a rich, often sweet wine. That’s why it’s described as a dried grape wine. It isn’t sparkling, since fizz comes from carbonation; it isn’t fortified, which involves adding spirits; and it isn’t rosé, which is defined by color from limited skin contact or blending. In Italy you’ll see Passito di Pantelleria or Vin Santo as well-known examples of this style.

Passito refers to wine made from dried grapes. The grapes are dried (a method called appassimento) to concentrate sugars and flavors before fermentation, yielding a rich, often sweet wine. That’s why it’s described as a dried grape wine. It isn’t sparkling, since fizz comes from carbonation; it isn’t fortified, which involves adding spirits; and it isn’t rosé, which is defined by color from limited skin contact or blending. In Italy you’ll see Passito di Pantelleria or Vin Santo as well-known examples of this style.