There are a host of products on the Jamaican market that boast some type of energy-giving, aphrodisiac powers, most of them labelled as roots wines, tonic wines or some similar names. A question that I get fairly regularly is whether they are really wines.

The generally accepted definition of wine is an alcoholic beverage made by the fermentation of the juice of the grape. The term wine is also applied to alcoholic beverages made from other fruits beside the grape and also plants, for example: elderberry wine, dandelion wine. The other part of the definition is related to the amount of alcohol that the wine has; wine that has seven per cent to 14 per cent alcohol by volume is defined as table wine or light wine. Most of you who have seen or better yet tried these tonic wines know too well that most of them have much higher percentages of alcohol than that. The few that have lower alcohol content usually have a number of other additives to the wine or fermented juice.

Fortified wines

Other categories of wines exist: Fortified wines, such as port or sherry, are wines to which alcohol, usually in the form of grape brandy, has been added. Aromatised wines are wines whose basic grape flavour has been augmented with the addition of flavouring like spices, herbs, flowers, nuts, honey. Most of these ‘Jamaican roots and tonic wines’ fall in these categories.

The popular ones

Red Label Wine is one of the most popular in the Jamaica fortified/aromatised wine category. Whether you are using it to soak fruits or to sip while chilling with friends, this product sells very well locally and overseas where it is known as Red Label Aperitif. I suspect that our label cannot meet any of the labelling laws in the countries in which it is sold.

Celebrating 10 years on our shelves is Magnum Tonic Wine, a favourite in the dancehall and on the streets. This product is made from grape-based wine and then fortified with spirit. Its energy-giving component comes from Vigorton 2. Vigorton 2 Iron and Vitamin tonic is formulated with irons and four key daily vitamins to build strength and vitality. This category of product is not new to Jamaica, these have been inspired by a number of products that have blazed the trail for hundreds of years.

The forefathers – Wincarnis, Sanatogen and Stones

These types of tonic ‘wines’ were being produced and sold in Europe in the late 19th century. The thought seemed to be that since wine was good for you, a great idea was to add tonic, meat, malt and other extracts to create a one-stop ‘happy potion’ or medicated wine. As their popularity grew, obviously big businesses took note and started to formulate their own offerings.

What used to be called ‘Liebig’s Extract of Meat and Malt Wine’ back in 1887, we now know as Wincarnis Tonic Wine. Wincarnis (Win=Wine, Carnis=meat) Tonic Wine is a blend of enriched wine and malt extract with therapeutic herbs and spices including gentian root, mugwort, angelica root, balm mint, fennel seed, coriander seed, peppermint leaves, ardamom seeds and cassia bark.

Sanatogen original tonic wine was introduced 80 years ago, made by the traditional blending of full-bodied Ruby British wine, with special Sanatogen tonic power formula.

Stones Ginger Wine dates back to 1740 in London, where a company called ‘The Finsbury Distilling Company’ created a product and named it after their most prominent customer, a grocer named Joseph Stone. Two hundred and seventy (270) years later it is still made almost the same way – from fine quality raisins and pure ground ginger. Sales took off just around the time of the great cholera epidemic as it was believed that that ginger offered protection against the disease; it has also been hailed as an aid to digestion and as an effective aphrodisiac – not much has changed.

Horny Goat Weed

A few other new products continue to appear on the market, each telling a compelling story, that promises bigger and better things by blending with different types of extracts. Several products like PowerWine and Jagra are now using Horny Goat Weed, which is a time-tested aphrodisiac that increases libido in men and women, and improves erectile function in men. Known also as Epimedium or Yin Yang Huo, horny goat weed was first described in ancient classical Chinese medicinal texts. Today, horny goat weed holds an important place in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is gaining popularity around the world.

If you’re tired of the ‘fine wines’ on the world stage, do experiment with one of Jamaica’s own and let me know what you think.

Chris Reckord is an independent wine consultant who operates DeVine Wine Services-Wine and Spirits Edu-tainment with his wife. Chris & Kerri are also part owners of Jamaica’s first and only wine-only bar -Bin 26 Wine Bar. Please send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com . Follow us on twitter.com/DeVineWines