Madeira is a heated, fortified wine that has flavors of cooked and stewed fruit.

Madeira is also a Portuguese island that rests between Africa and Portugal. Centuries ago, Madeira wine was placed onto ships as merchants transported exports to other regions. With the heat and constant exposure to the sun, the wine “cooked” during the voyages, and the merchants found that this phenomenon improved the quality of the wine. Over time, consumers began to appreciate the style of cooked wine and Madeira found itself amongst the great wine regions of the world.

Today, Madeira wine is still heated and exposed to oxygen, making it “unbreakable” and extremely age-worthy. As a result, Madeiras are extremely hardy and can last in the bottle for decades without breaking down or going bad. However, the wine is no longer transported on hot ships, but produced in wineries. Wine-makers have created processes to cook the wine in conditions that mimic the original production methods of hot ships.

How is Madeira Wine Made?

Inexpensive Madeiras are often made through the Estufagem tank method, where the wine is placed in a vat and cooked at high temperatures for several months. Higher quality Madeiras are heated naturally in the sun, or hot warehouses, where the sun heats the wine for months and causes it to slowly cook. In both cases, air is allowed to interact with the wine, adding flavors of dried fruit and sweet spices.

Styles of Madeira

Standard Blends/Corrente: 2-3 year old aged wines

Rainwater: Lighter body (The old story goes that these were wines left in the open and diluted by rain water)

Frasqueira: High quality, premium Madeiras

Colheita: Single vintage Madeiras made from one harvest of grapes instead of a blend of different years

Old Madeiras: These can range from 5-50 + years of age!

Food Pairings

Madeira pairs well with an array of dishes. It compliments appetizers like salads, olives, goat cheese and charcuterie boards. It is often served with hardy entrees like salmon, tuna, and steak. Sweeter styles pair well with chocolate, pralines, cream cakes and fruit tarts.

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