Madeira

A volcanic Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic, roughly 700 km west of Morocco.

Subtropical maritime with warm, humid, windy conditions - historically ideal for fortification and the slow oxidative 'cooking' of wine.

Madeira is the wine that toasted the Declaration of Independence and the most durable wine ever made, able to age virtually forever.

Developed for long sea voyages - fortified, heated and oxidised so it arrived better than it left - it became a fine dessert wine in its own right.

Entry-level 3 and 5 year olds are superb value for the kitchen; aged Vintage and Colheita bottlings are collectible.

Terroir & Soil

Volcanic basalt terraces on steep mountainsides; the famous estufagem heating process defines the wine's nutty, caramelised character.

What to Expect from the Wines

· Madeira is intentionally oxidised and heated, giving extraordinary longevity - it famously survived Atlantic voyages and ages for centuries.
· The island's four noble grapes - Sercial, Verdelho, Malvasia (Malmsey) and Bual - span dry to lusciously sweet.
· Sercial is the driest, with searing acidity; Malmsey is rich, caramelised and sweet.

Remarkable Bottles from Madeira

Blandy's 10 Year Old Sercial Madeira

Madeira · 2024 (representative vintage)

Blandy's 10 Year Old Sercial Madeira is an fortified wine from Portugal, in the Madeira region (A volcanic Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic, roughly 700 km west of Morocco.), made principally from Sercial. The driest style of Madeira — a wine 'cooked' by heat and age into extraordinary, immortal complexity.

$30–$45 est. retail

Madeira Verdelho

Madeira · 2024 (representative vintage)

Madeira Verdelho is an white wine from Portugal, in the Madeira region (A volcanic Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic, roughly 700 km west of Morocco.), made principally from Verdelho. a house-style Madeira verdelho that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Madeira Malvasia

Madeira · 2024 (representative vintage)

Madeira Malvasia is an white wine from Portugal, in the Madeira region (A volcanic Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic, roughly 700 km west of Morocco.), made principally from Malvasia. a house-style Madeira malvasia that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Madeira Tinta Cão

Madeira · 2024 (representative vintage)

Madeira Tinta Cão is an red wine from Portugal, in the Madeira region (A volcanic Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic, roughly 700 km west of Morocco.), made principally from Tinta Cão. a house-style Madeira tinta cão that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

Madeira Sercial Riserva

Madeira · 2024 (representative vintage)

Madeira Sercial Riserva is an white wine from Portugal, in the Madeira region (A volcanic Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic, roughly 700 km west of Morocco.), made principally from Sercial. a reserve-tier Madeira sercial that represents the region's premium bottled expression.

$35–$65 est. retail

Food Pairing

· Sercial with consommé, salted almonds and light tapas.
· Verdelho with Mediterranean fish and grilled octopus.
· Malmsey with blue cheese, dark chocolate and Christmas pudding.

Buying from Madeira

› Aging is the ladder: 3, 5 and 10 Year Old, then Colheita and Vintage.
› Sercial is driest; Verdelho medium; Bual rich; Malmsey sweetest - pick to taste.
› The best houses are Blandy's, Henriques & Henriques, Barbeito and d'Oliveiras.