Quality fortified wine industries cannot be started overnight, as aged stocks of fortified wine are required for blending the final product. Australia used to be a nation of fortified sweet wine drinkers before the modern wine boom started. To this day Australia's top producers are those firms with up to a century of history in making sweet fortified wines. Australian tawny "port" is sometimes compared to Portugese tawny Portos, though they have their own distinctive identity and are generally made in a sweeter dessert style. At the pinnacle of Australian sweet wines, however, are the nectarous Liqueur Muscats and Tokays.

These extraordinary wines take their place among the most exquisite dessert wines of the world.Vintage ports are also produced in Australia, frequently from the Shiraz grape variety. These are bold and fruity, requiring some cellaring, though in no way comparable to the Portugese Vintage Portos.