Sheffield Marsala
California Marsala, built for the pan and the glass.
The story behind Sheffield
Sheffield Marsala is California fortified wine, vinted and bottled in Modesto by E. & J. Gallo, the family company that built the Sheffield Cellars line of everyday fortified wines. It is not Sicilian Marsala and never claims to be. No DOC rules apply here, so the grapes are a generic white blend from the inland valleys rather than Grillo or Inzolia, and the wine is fortified with neutral grape spirits, oak mellowed in large casks, and bottled non vintage for consistency.
We have poured and cooked with Sheffield for years. It runs about 17% ABV, sweet and forward, brown sugar, toasted almonds, vanilla, stewed apricots, with none of the bone dry mineral edge of a premium Vergine. The San Francisco International Wine Competition gave it a Gold Medal. That is the whole story, and it is a good one.
Explore the Sheffield range
Sheffield keeps one core Marsala and one Tawny Port, in two sizes. Here is what we stock and how each drinks.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield Marsala 750mL | Fortified white, California | 34 proof (17% ABV) | Brown sugar, toasted almond, vanilla, stewed apricot |
| Sheffield Marsala 1.5L | Fortified white, California | 34 proof (17% ABV) | Same sweet profile, sized for the kitchen |
| Sheffield Tawny Port 750mL | Fortified red, California | 34 proof (17% ABV) | Caramel, raisin, soft oak, sweet finish |
| Sheffield Tawny Port 1.5L | Fortified red, California | 34 proof (17% ABV) | Big format for dessert tables and gifting |
| Sheffield Marsala, culinary pour | Pan sauce and deglazing base | 34 proof (17% ABV) | Caramelizes fast in Chicken Marsala and mushroom sauces |
Which Sheffield is right for you?
Sheffield Marsala is value wine, and we price it that way. The 750mL runs $7.99, and the 1.5L is $12.99, so a bottle for the pan and a bottle for the table costs less than most single dessert wines. The Tawny Port matches it, $6.99 for 750mL and $12.99 for the 1.5L. Buy Sheffield Marsala online or grab it off the shelf in Commack. At these numbers you keep one in the kitchen and one in the bar.
Enough for repeated pan sauces and deglazing without flinching at the price.
Chilled after dinner with biscotti and nuts, no ceremony required.
Caramel and raisin sweetness for a fraction of tawny Port money.