Just moved to Kathmandu, Nepal, and our didi (domestic) returned from grocery shopping with a bottle of Wincarnis Tonic Wine. Drinks like a semi-dry port, and apparently no longer made with meat (“carnis”)! 17% abv. Had never heard of or seen this product, but presumably UK (and former UK colony) WB friends are probably familiar with this cheap, sweet, throwback “tonic”. The joys of getting outside my US bubble!
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Yes; it’s one of a series of tonic wines made in the UK from rehydrated dried grapes or imported must.
Used to be popular; people who ‘didn’t drink’ would enjoy a glass for their health because it was a Tonic.
Another similar ‘wine’ that is popular with a certain part of society -namely the ones found sleeping it off sprawled in the street or on police cells after some anti-social behaviour or crime is Buckfast aka Bucky.
Originally made by the monks of Buckfast Abbey.
These and sherry and port type wines are ‘British Wines’ - a legal category.
Real wines, made from grapes grown here are legally ‘English wines’.
I was recently taken to a café for lunch in my own fair city and decided to have a glass of wine - it was awful and I only had one sip. I asked to see the bottle. It was a British table wine. I’ve never been back.
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Buckfast and Glasgow:
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Thanks for the background and note!