Food and wine have been paired for hundreds of years, most likely because folks believe some combinations just taste better when they are together than when served alone. Conventional wisdom in respect of pairing is not often followed for modern meals, partly because folks have found they prefer to rely on their individual tastes to decide which combinations taste the best. Dessert wines, however, are usually served with fruit or bakery sweets, although they are occasionally enjoyed alone after the meal. True appreciation of that type of wine, though, begins with knowing what sets it apart from other types.

Liquors, such as scotch or bourbon, are made from grains and distilled. In contrast, wine is the product of fermented grapes. Brandy on the other hand is a beverage that is a fine combination of the two processes. The name is short for ‘brandywine’, which sounds similar to 'burned wine', suggestive of what it is and how it is made.