according to Epicurious:

ratafia
[rat-uh-FEE-uh]
A sweet French APÉRITIF made from a mixture of unfermented grape juice and BRANDY. The best known are Ratafia de Bourgogne and Ratafia de Champagne. Ratafia is similar to the better-known PINEAU DES CHARENTES

in various romance novels ratafia is mentioned as a sicky sweet drink served to ladies.