Name for a fortified wine from Spain and the Canary Islands, which was commonly used in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. There are several versions of the meaning of the word, but ultimately sack was also the origin of the name for sparkling wine. One version states that the word is derived from the French "sec" (dry). However, this is contradicted by the fact that it was used to describe all wines from sweet to dry. A second variant explains the name through the Spanish "saca" (bottling), which mutated into "sacas" and later into "sack". The well-known English chronicler Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) mentions one of these in his famous diaries.
![]()
The wein.plus encyclopaedia is a comprehensive, well-researched reference work. Available anytime and anywhere, it has become an indispensable part of teaching, used by students and myself alike. Highly recommended!
Dominik Trick
Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg