A toast to Madeira Wines

 Saude! A toast to Madeira Wines


source: madeira.best

Madeira fortified wines are world-famous and we were lucky to drop into one of the largest winemakers Justino’s where we got to taste and learn about the nuances of this fine inebriant, nectar of the island Gods.


Did you know that Madeira wine was the favourite drink of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson? 


Fun fact: Madeira wine was chosen as the official wine for the signing the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America on 4th July 1776!


The local grape varieties in Madeira benefit from the nutrient-rich volcanic soil, the warm tropical sun as well as the fog that blankets the highlands each morning. Grapes are grown in hand-planted vines on small plots of land known as "poios", bolstered by handmade stone walls on steep mountainsides and ae watered by the traditional Levada irrigation system that crisscross the island.

There are more than 30 Madeira wine varieties. By some estimates about 85% of all Madeira wine is made from a blend of red Tinta Negra grapes grown in the demarcated areas of Madeira and Porto Santo islands. 

source: WineFolly

The most commonly grapes used in single-varietal Madeira wines are Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia. Dry styles of Madeira (such as Sercial and Verdelho) are best served chilled while the sweeter styles (such as Bual and Malmsey) are served at room temperature like a fine Cognac. 
  • Sercial (pronounced 'Ser-seal') variety with its light colour and brightest crispest flavour, makes an ideal aperitif. 
  • Verdelho (pronounced 'Ver-dell-oo') dominates the medium-dry wines category, with its golden colour and smokier and slightly more concentrated taste, makes it ideal for meals.
  • Bual (pronounced 'Buwall') with a semi-sweet aftertaste and a dark golden colour is ideal for accompanying roasts and desserts being smooth and velvety.
  • Malmsey (pronounced 'Malo-see') is the best choice for between meals or dessert, given its sweet, full-bodied, intensely perfumed and rich red colour.

A vintage Madeira wine can last for a century or more, and when opened the wine can be enjoyed, re-stoppered and stored for months without deterioration. 

Complex, with extraordinary aromas of oxidation and aging, Madeira wines are known and recognized for their energy and freshness due to the unique growing conditions of Madeira. But its evolution was accidental - a sure sign that Bacchus the God of wine-making was smiling on the island!

The archipelago of Madeira, which lies in the Atlantic Ocean, 480 miles southwest of Lisbon, was once an important refuelling port for cargo ships plying the lucrative trade routes of yore. Madeira wines were taken on board, fortified with brandy to prevent deterioration during the long sea voyages. 

Quite by accident, the heat of the ship's hold was found to dramatically improve the wines, making them richer and capable of ageing almost indefinitely. The method of natural aging is called canteiro

Over time, artificial aging methods called estufagem were developed using special estufas or ovens to heat up the barrels of wine. Presently, the wines stored in stainless steel containers are heated by hot water 'jackets' to a temperature of 45-50C for up to three months, after which the wines are allowed to cool down gradually.  

Madeira fortified wines, with alcohol content between 19% to 22% vol. are now available in a range of dry to sweet styles with exotic flavours such as roasted hazelnut, stewed fruit, toffee, walnut oil, orange peel, and burnt sugar or caramel. 


Here's a toast to the unmatched flavorsome Madeira Wine. Saude, as the Portuguese would say when toasting one another


References

  1. Madeira Wine Overview. (n.d.). Wine Tours. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from http://www.discoveringmadeira.com/madeira-wine-overview
  2. The Ultimate Guide to Madeira Wine. (2020, June 22). The Wine Society. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://www.thewinesociety.com/discover/explore/regional-guides/madeira-ultimate-guide
  3. Madeira Wine. (n.d.). Madeira Islands Tourism Board. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/food-and-wine-enthusiasts/madeira-wine/
  4. What is Madeira Wine? The Rare Island Wine. (n.d.). Wine Folly. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/what-is-madeira-wine/
Location: Madeira, Portugal

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