Fortified Flashcards
Madeira Climate
Warm summers & humid and mild winters, cooler and wetter north and centre because of rain shadow from mountains.
Madeira Climate Risks
Lack of winter dormancy, fungal disease from humidity
Madeira Grape Varieties
Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia, Tinta Negra, Terrantez
Madeira Grapes: Tinta Negra
Usually used for wines with sweetness level not grape on the label, used for all sweetness levels
Madeira Grapes: Sercial
High acidity, used for driest Madeira styles. Late ripening, last to be picked. Powdery Mildew resistant but prone to botrytis and poor fruit set
Madeira Grapes: Verdelho
second most planted. High acidity not as much as Sercial. prone to botrytis bunch rot, coloure, downy & powdery mildew
Madeira Grapes: Boal
Multiple varieties. Boal Cachudo grown in Madeira (or Malvasia Fina), grows best in warm sites in south. Susceptible to drought. For semi-sweet wines
Madeira Grapes: Malvasia
Malvasia Candida very good but prone to powdery mildew, so not much. Malvasia de Sao Jorge most common, high yield but prone to botrytis bunch rot
Madeira Grapes: Terrantez
Very limited. Powdery Mildew and botrytis bunch rot. Picked early.
Maderia Pruning
Terraced on steep slopes, trained into pergola system called latadas. Air circulation above and beneath vine and to grow other crops beneath. Or trained in cordon-trained VSP trellis called espaldeira
Madeira: Latadas
Pergola training with air circulation above and beneath
Madeira: Espaldeira
Cordon-trained VSP trellis
Madeira: Levadas
small irrigation channels carrying rainwater from centre of the island
Madeira Maturation: Estufagem
Heated in stainless steel estufas to 45-50 for minimum of three months. Some oxidation from air left in tank. Cooled, filtered, rests for 6-12 months. Usually 3-5 year wines from Tinta Negra. Less complexity.
Madeira Maturation: Canteiro
longer process, matured in oak vessels in warm evnironment, with small amount of air for oxidation. 25-40 degrees. High humidity, but some evaporation to about 19-20 abv. Cannot be sold until 3 years after 1st Jan after harvest. Can apply for a subsidy to age further 5 years in sealed vessel.
Madeira Sweetness Levels by Varietal
Sercial: Dry/Extra Dry Verdelho: Medium Dry Boal: Medium Sweet Malvasia: Sweet Terrantez: Medium Dry/Medium Sweet Tinta Negra: any level of sweetness
Corrente
Wines that do not qualify for age indications
Rainwater Madeira
Light style, around 18% abv, medium dry, max age 10 years
Frasqueira/Garrafeira
Flagship of a producer. VIntage madeira aged in wood min 20 years. Must be varietally labelled with year of harvest and bottling, with quality assessed by IVBAM. Super premium. tertiary character, concentration, sweetness balanced by high acidity.
Colheita
Vintage Madeira aged in wood for minimum 5 years. May be blend or varietal. Harvest year & bottling year must be labelled.
VDN Environment
Mediterranean: Roussillon is driest & warmest & gets Tramonte wind which increases transpiration for more concentration
VDN Grapes: Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
smaller grapes, greater intensity. Tolerant of dry conditions but susceptible to powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot, and mites
VDN Grapes: Muscat of Alexandria
bigger grapes than Muscat Blanc, higher sugar levels. Tolerant of dry conditions but prone to powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot.
VDN Grapes: Grenache
Late-ripening, drought resistant. High yields but can be pale at high yield. Accumulates sugar quickly. Susceptible to coulure, downy mildew, phomopsis, botrytis bunch rot.