Where can Madeira be produced?
2 islands : Madeira & Porto Santo.
What are poios?
Basalt stone lined terraces in Madeira.
Which vine trainings are used in Madeira?
- Pergola system
with vines suspended on low trellises known as latadas.
What are levadas?
A system of canals used for agriculture in Madeira.
Who controls madeira production?
- Instituto do Vinho, do Bordado e do Artesanato da Madeira
- The Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute of Madeira (IVBAM).
How many companies are registered with (IVBAM) for Madeira production?
- 8 (6 for export)
Name the main producers of Madeira.
- Vinhos Justino Henriques (largest) - 1870
- Madeira Wine Company - 1913 (1981)
- Henriques & Henriques - 1850
- Vinhos Barbeito - 1946
- Pereira d’Oliveira - 1850
- H. M. Borges - 1877
- J. Faria & Filhos - 1949
- Madeira Vintners - 2013
Which Madeira brands are under Madeira Wine Company?
- Blandy’s
- Cossart Gordon
- Leacock’s & Miles
Who is a “Partidistas”?
Partidistas, store the wine and sell it at maturity to other traders for a profit, make up the third category. Partidistas are similar to the almacenistas of the Sherry trade.
What are the grapes for Madeira?
- Sercial (Esgana Cão)
- Verdelho
- Boal (Bual, Malvasia Fina)
- Malmsey (Malvasia Branca de São Jorge)
- Tinta Negra
Which noble grape varieties of the 19th Century were not replanted in Madeira after phylloxera?
- Bastardo Tinta
- Terrantez
At what sweetness level is Terrazntez made in Madeira?
Terrantez is usually made at a sweetness level similar to Verdelho.
Which process does Madeira undergo post fermentation?
- Estufagem - Temperature controlled tanks - 90 days
- Canteiro - Oak aged - stored near the roof of the storage room for 18 months.
How long are Estufagem wines aged?
2 years.
How long are Canteiro wines aged?
3 years.
List Madeira based on style from dry to sweet.
- Sercial - dry - light amber colour - aperitif
- Verdelho - off dry - darker amber - aperitif
- Boal - med sweet - slightly darker - digestif
- Malmsey - luscious - deep amber - digestif
What is the residual sugar for Sercial?
- 18 to 65 g/L.
What is the residual sugar for Verdelho?
- 49 to 78 g/L.
What is the residual sugar for Boal?
- 78 to 96 g/L.
What is the residual sugar for Malmsey?
- 96 to 135 g/L.
What is Rainwater Madeira?
- Usually 100% Tinta Negra
- Medium dry and light in style
- Youngest wine in the blend is min. 3 yrs old
What is Frasqueira Madeira?
- Single Vintage Madeira (85% minimum required)
- Aged min. 20 years in oak + 2 years in bottle.
- 100% named varietal
What is “Colheita” or “Harvest” Madeira?
- Single Vintage Madeira (85% minimum required)
- Aged min. 5 years in oak + 1 year in bottle.
- 100% named varietal
What does the term “Extra Reserve” on a bottle of Madeira mean?
- Min age of the youngest wine in the blend is 15 years in oak.
