{"title":"Fortaleza Winter Blend Collection","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"fortaleza-winter-blend-reposado-tequila-2022","title":"2022 Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado Tequila 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eFortaleza Winter Blend 2022 is a Reposado Tequila from Destileria La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. This fourth annual Winter Blend marries three separately matured reposado lots - six months in American oak ex-bourbon, five months first-fill + four months second-fill in Hungarian oak ex-Tokaji wine casks, and five months first-fill + four months second-fill in French oak ex-Oloroso Sherry casks - bottled at 87 proof, additive-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2022 release was the most complex Winter Blend to date, threading together five separate maturations across three wood traditions: American bourbon, Hungarian Tokaji dessert wine, and Spanish Oloroso Sherry. The Tokaji and Oloroso casks were used in both first-fill and second-fill, doubling the variable set inside one bottle. Production follows Fortaleza's traditional methods at NOM 1493: 100 percent estate Blue Weber agave, brick-oven slow cooking, tahona stone-wheel extraction, open-air wooden vat fermentation, and double distillation in small copper pot stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the nose, it shows cooked agave layered with honeyed dessert wine, oxidative Sherry, and oak spice. The palate brings sweet agave, dried apricot, Sherry-driven nutty character, baking spice, and integrated oak, and the finish carries a long, layered close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy blending five distinct maturations rather than one or two, the 2022 release shows Fortaleza's most ambitious wood program in the series. It drinks well neat or over a single large cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProof: 87 (43.5% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistillery: Destileria La Fortaleza (NOM 1493)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fortaleza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44699755348223,"sku":"FZTEWBRECA7522","price":699.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0607\/1586\/0223\/files\/2022FortalezaWinterBlendReposadoTequila750ml.webp?v=1777056587"},{"product_id":"fortaleza-winter-blend-reposado-tequila-2023","title":"2023 Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado Tequila 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eFortaleza Winter Blend 2023 is a Reposado Tequila from Destileria La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. This fifth annual Winter Blend marries reposado lots from six separate barrel types - two 150L American oak ex-Charanda barrels, two 500L French oak barrels previously holding the 2022 Winter Blend (originally Oloroso Sherry), and two 220L Hungarian oak barrels previously holding the 2022 Winter Blend (originally Tokaji) - bottled at 88 proof, additive-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2023 release added Charanda, a Michoacan sugarcane spirit, to the Winter Blend wood vocabulary for the first time, and continued the multi-generation cask program by reusing barrels that had held the 2022 Winter Blend's Tokaji and Oloroso lots. Production follows Fortaleza's traditional methods at NOM 1493: 100 percent Blue Weber agave grown on the Sauza family's estate, brick-oven slow cooking, tahona stone-wheel extraction, open-air wooden vat fermentation, and double distillation in small copper pot stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the nose, it shows cooked agave layered with dried tropical fruit, sugarcane sweetness, and oxidative Sherry. The palate brings sweet agave, dried apricot, honeyed dessert wine, soft Charanda funk, and integrated oak, and the finish carries a long, layered close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe two-generation barrel chain - Tokaji to 2022 Winter Blend to 2023, and Oloroso to 2022 Winter Blend to 2023 - threads continuity across releases that previous Winter Blends only hinted at. It drinks well neat or over a single large cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProof: 88 (44% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistillery: Destileria La Fortaleza (NOM 1493)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fortaleza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44699764982015,"sku":"FZTEWBRECA7523","price":689.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0607\/1586\/0223\/files\/2023FortalezaWinterBlendReposadoTequila750ml.webp?v=1777056632"},{"product_id":"2021-fortaleza-winter-blend-reposado-tequila","title":"2021 Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado Tequila 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eFortaleza Winter Blend 2021 is a Reposado Tequila from Destileria La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. This third annual Winter Blend is a marriage of reposado lots aged six months in American oak and ten months in French oak barrels that previously held Marsala wine, bottled at cask strength 92.6 proof, additive-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2021 release leaned harder into wine-cask influence than its predecessors, building the blend around French oak that had aged Italian Marsala - a fortified wine that brings nutty oxidative character and dried fruit. The bottle count grew to 10,500 worldwide. Production follows Fortaleza's traditional methods at NOM 1493: 100 percent estate Blue Weber agave, brick-oven slow cooking, tahona stone-wheel extraction, open-air wooden vat fermentation, and double distillation in small copper pot stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the nose, it shows cooked agave layered with dried plum, honey, and freshly baked dough. The palate brings agave, dried fruit, honey, nutty Marsala character, and gentle oak, and the finish carries a long, vinous close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Marsala cask gave the 2021 Winter Blend a noticeably more vinous, dried-fruit profile than the bourbon-and-French-oak builds of 2019 and 2020. It drinks well neat or over a single large cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProof: 92.6 (46.3% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistillery: Destileria La Fortaleza (NOM 1493)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fortaleza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45880777277695,"sku":"FZTEWBRECA7521","price":799.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0607\/1586\/0223\/files\/2021FortalezaWinterBlendReposadoTequila750ml.webp?v=1777056781"},{"product_id":"2020-fortaleza-winter-blend-reposado-tequila","title":"2020 Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado Tequila 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eFortaleza Winter Blend 2020 is a Reposado Tequila from Destileria La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. This second annual Winter Blend is a marriage of three cask types - ex-American whiskey barrels, second-fill French oak previously used for the 2019 Winter Blend, and American oak barrels that previously aged English-style ale - bottled at 92 proof, additive-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 release pushed the Winter Blend program past its inaugural template by adding ex-beer barrels to the mix - a first for Fortaleza - and reusing the French oak from the 2019 release as a tie-in across releases. The bottle count climbed to 7,050 worldwide. Production follows Fortaleza's traditional methods at NOM 1493: 100 percent estate Blue Weber agave, brick-oven slow cooking, tahona stone-wheel extraction, open-air wooden vat fermentation, and double distillation in small copper pot stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the nose, it shows cooked agave layered with caramelized tropical fruit and toasted nuts. The palate brings rich agave, caramel, tropical fruit, toasted nuts, and a cider-like acidity from the beer barrel, balanced by a hint of hops, and the finish carries a long, spice-forward close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ex-ale barrel was the defining experiment of 2020, contributing a yeasty cider-like edge that sits underneath the more familiar oak-and-agave structure. It drinks well neat or over a single large cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProof: 92 (46% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistillery: Destileria La Fortaleza (NOM 1493)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fortaleza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45880799101183,"sku":"FZTEWBRECA7520","price":1099.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0607\/1586\/0223\/files\/2020FortalezaWinterBlendReposadoTequila750ml.webp?v=1777056831"},{"product_id":"2019-fortaleza-winter-blend-reposado-tequila","title":"2019 Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado Tequila 750ml","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2019 is a limited-edition Reposado Tequila from Destilería La Fortaleza (NOM 1493) in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The inaugural release in Fortaleza's annual Winter Blend series, it marked the first time the distillery departed from its traditional American oak-only aging program by incorporating new French oak barrels into the blend. Just 5,184 bottles were produced, making it one of the rarest expressions in the collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Winter Blend program was conceived as a once-a-year showcase for barrel experimentation — each vintage a wholly distinct and limited release that builds on the distillery's heritage while pushing into new territory. For the 2019 edition, Guillermo Erickson Sauza and his team split Fortaleza's still-strength Blanco between used American whiskey barrels aged for six months and new French oak barrels aged for eleven months, then blended the two lots and bottled the result at cask strength. The longer French oak maturation gave the 2019 a notably bold, wood-forward character that surprised fans accustomed to the distillery's agave-first house style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOn the nose, it opens with bright citrus peel, cooked agave, vanilla, and caramel alongside cedary barrel spice from the French oak. The palate is rich and creamy, with toffee, roasted agave, orange zest, baking spices, and a generous dose of vanilla. The finish is long and warming, carrying pepper, mint, lingering oak, and a touch of dark chocolate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe 2019 stands as a landmark release — the proof of concept for a program that has since become one of the most sought-after annual drops in all of tequila. It drinks beautifully neat or with a single large ice cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003eProof: 91.4 (45.7% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003eBarrels: Used American whiskey oak (6 months) \u0026amp; new French oak (11 months)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003eBottles Produced: 5,184\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003eOrigin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003eDistillery: Destilería La Fortaleza (NOM 1493)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fortaleza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45880818729215,"sku":"FZTEWBRECA7519","price":2299.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0607\/1586\/0223\/files\/2019FortalezaWinterBlendReposadoTequila750ml.webp?v=1777056875"},{"product_id":"2024-fortaleza-winter-blend-reposado-tequila-750ml","title":"2024 Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado Tequila 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eFortaleza Winter Blend 2024 is a Reposado Tequila from Destileria La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. This sixth annual Winter Blend marries reposado aged six months in American oak with reposado aged ten months in 200L French oak ex-Marsala wine casks, bottled at 93 proof, additive-free, with approximately 10,400 bottles released worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2024 release returned to the Marsala cask program first explored in the 2021 Winter Blend, this time with a tighter two-cask build rather than a multi-wood mosaic. Production follows Fortaleza's traditional methods at NOM 1493: 100 percent Blue Weber agave grown on the Sauza family's estate, brick-oven slow cooking, tahona stone-wheel extraction, open-air wooden vat fermentation, and double distillation in small copper pot stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the nose, it shows cooked agave layered with dried plum, honey, and nutty Marsala character. The palate brings sweet agave, oak spice, honeyed dried fruit, and a vinous Marsala mid-palate, and the finish carries a long, dried-fruit close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy stripping the cask roster back to two well-matched woods, the 2024 release reads cleaner and more agave-forward than the multi-wood 2022 and 2023 builds. It drinks well neat or over a single large cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProof: 93 (46.5% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistillery: Destileria La Fortaleza (NOM 1493)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fortaleza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46386201854207,"sku":"FZTEWBRECA7524","price":629.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0607\/1586\/0223\/files\/2024FortalezaWinterBlendReposadoTequila750ml.webp?v=1777057261"},{"product_id":"2025-fortaleza-winter-blend-reposado-tequila-750ml","title":"2025 Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado Tequila 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eFortaleza Winter Blend 2025 is a Reposado Tequila from Destileria La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. This seventh annual Winter Blend marries reposado aged in used American whiskey barrels with separately matured lots from French oak ex-Passito di Caluso wine casks and French oak ex-Madeira casks, bottled at 92 proof, additive-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2025 release pulled the cask roster across two distinct fortified-wine traditions - Italian Passito di Caluso (a sweet dessert wine from Piedmont) and Portuguese Madeira (an oxidatively aged fortified wine) - to build the most layered dried-fruit profile in the Winter Blend series to date. The French oak portion was blended first, then married with the barrel-strength American oak Reposado base. Production follows Fortaleza's traditional methods at NOM 1493: 100 percent estate Blue Weber agave, brick-oven slow cooking, tahona stone-wheel extraction, open-air wooden vat fermentation, and double distillation in small copper pot stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the nose, it shows cooked agave layered with dried apricot, honey, and Madeira's signature oxidative depth. The palate brings sweet agave, dried fruit, gentle spice, honeyed Passito sweetness, and Madeira-driven oxidative richness, and the finish carries a long, coating close with dried-fruit complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Passito and Madeira pairing makes the 2025 release the sweetest and most viscous Winter Blend in the series, while still preserving Fortaleza's signature agave character. It drinks well neat or over a single large cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProof: 92 (46% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistillery: Destileria La Fortaleza (NOM 1493)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fortaleza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48306847678719,"sku":"FZTEWBRECA7525","price":649.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0607\/1586\/0223\/files\/2025FortalezaWinterBlendReposadoTequila750ml_908a7c15-5d90-499a-9b59-77bac27ba428.webp?v=1780507049"}],"url":"https:\/\/canawineco.com\/collections\/fortaleza-winter-blend-collection.oembed","provider":"Cana Wine Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}