3 - Madeira Styles

Question 1

Labelling conventions

Answer 1

• grape variety
• level of sweetness
• length of ageing
• whether the wine is from a single vintage or multiple vintage

Question 2

variety of sweetness levels

can hence be labelled

Answer 2

• extra dry
• dry
• medium dry
• medium sweet (medium rich)
• sweet (rich)

-even wines labelled dry demonstrate some
Degree of sweetness

-is also some overlap between the categories and hence one producer dry my be another producer medium dry

Question 3

varietally labelled

Especially premium prices

Each grape variety is associated with the following styles

varietally labelling don’t need indication of style on the label

Answer 3

-SERCIAL 
extra dry or dry 
lightest coloured 
lightest bodied 
varietally wines 
citrus peel and nuts 

-VERDELHO 
medium dry (as more residual sugar)
slightly darker in colour than sercial 
medium body 
rounder texture, slight sweetness on the palate impression of sweeter flavours, candied fruit 

-BOAL 
medium sweet 
darker in colour
fuller body
flavoursome caramel, chocolate and candied nuts 

-MALVASIA or MALMSEY 
sweet 
brown colour 
full body 
sweetest style but still balanced by refreshing high acidity 
raisins and caramel 

-TERRANTEZ
medium dry or medium sweet
can have relatively high levels of sugar there is always a delicacy
aromas include citrus peel, caramel and sometimes even floral notes

-TINTA NEGRA
2015
any level of sweetness

Question 4

further categories

-indication of age

Answer 4

• non-vintage products and my be labelled 5/10/15/20/30/40/50 and more than 50 years old
• age is an indication of style rather than a minimum or an average
• IVBAM must be verified by tasting panel accompanied by an account of all wines used in the final blend
• may also be labelled according to style and/or grape variety

-quality and price tend to rise with increased age

• 5 years predominantly made from tinta negra and been trough the estufagem system
• good to very good quality and mid-priced
• 10 years made with one of the white varieties, but some pedicures used tinta negra especially now it’s can appear on the label
• made with parcels aged in CANTEIRO system with increased time spend maturing

-20 years more often outstanding quality and sell at premium and super-premium prices

Question 5

further categories

standard blends

Answer 5

• wine do not quality for the age indication specified
• may be sold between 2-3 years after harvest
• IVBAM categorised as corrente
• sometimes labelled with a brand of the producer

Question 6

further categories

rainwater
the name is through to have originated when some casks awaiting shipment were left open outside and the rain diluted the wine

Answer 6

• relatively light style in terms of alcohol 18%abv
• relatively light body and concentration of flavours
• medium dry
• only be associated with a maximum age indication of 10 years

Question 7

further categories

frasqueira or garrafeira

Answer 7

• usually represent the flagships of a producer’s range
• minimum aged in wood of 20 years
• grape must appear on the label
• the harvest year
• IVBAM must assessed by a panel tasting
• super premium price
• style will depend on the grape variety from which are made
• notable for their concentration and complexity of tertiary flavours
• sweetness balanced by the high acidity

Question 8

further categories

Colheita

Answer 8

• vintage Madeira
• made with grapes from a single year
• has been aged in wood for a minimum of 5 years
• either made from blend or single variety’s
• the grape variety don’t need to appear on the label but the harvest year must be stated
• IVBAM must assessed be tasting panel
• relatively new category which only emerged in 2000
• but the lower ageing requirements than required from Frasqueira has made it popular and now all producers make one