Madeira Flashcards
What is the first regulating body for Madeira production, and when was it founded?
Instituto do Vinho de Madeira
1979
What is the IVBAM, and when was it established?
New regulating body for Madeira production in 2006
Instituto do Vinho do Bordado e do Artesanato de Madeira
Describe the climate of Madeira and climate issues surrounding the island?
Warm summer, mild winter Humid Mountainous, up to 1800m altitude Lack of winter dormancy High rainfall in the North/Center
Size of Madeira, and hectares planted?
74000 ha
450 ha
Location and altitude of Madeira vineyards?
Plantings near the coast
800m elevation
Describe the soil and vigor found in Madeira?
Volcanic soils
High in nutrients
Fertile conditions
Highly vigorous
Name the four noble grapes and the two recommended grapes in Madeira?
Noble:
Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia
Recommended:
Terrantez, Tinta Negra
Describe Tinta Negra grapes?
High yielding Easy growing Most planted variety Any sweetness level Only stated on labels since 2015
Describe Sercial grapes?
Late ripening High acidity Resistant to powdery mildew Susceptible to botrytis Poor fruit set Creates dry styles
Describe Verdelho grapes?
High acidity
Susceptible to botrytis, coulure, and downy/powdery mildews
Second-most planted variety
Describe Boal grapes?
Primary varietal is Boal Cachudo (Malvasia Fina)
Grows best in warm, low altitude sites in the South
Susceptible to drought
Creates semi-sweet styles
Describe Malvasia grapes?
Most common is Malvasia de Sao Jorge
High-yielding but susceptible to botrytis
Historically, Malvasia Candida
High quality but low yielding
Susceptible to powdery mildew
Describe Terrantez grapes?
Very limited plantings
Susceptible to powdery mildew and botrytis
Define latadas?
A pergola trellising system in Madeira
Allows circulation above and beneath the vine, reducing fungal disease
What are VSP-trellised vines called in Madeira?
Espaldeira
Common vineyard practices in Madeira?
Fungicide sprays
Canopy management
Irrigation
Hand harvesting
Irrigation channels in Madeira?
Levadas
Yields and potential ABV of vines in Madeira?
High yields around 150 hL/ha
9-11% potential ABV
Common winemaking techniques in Madeira?
Skin contact in fermentation for reds, occasionally with whites
Stainless steel
Ambient yeast
96% ABV spirit for fortification (neutral)
Fining/Filtering
Name the roles of the IVBAM?
Decide harvest date
Inspect all grapes on arrival at the winery
Quality check all fortification spirit
Seal and unseal estufas/canteiro vessels
Offer subsidies to offset 5+ years aging
Supervise quality checks on aging product
Tasting panel for Madeira with an Indication of Age
Monitors stocks
Visit growers and provide advice/support
Regulation on labeling
Describe Estufagem?
Heating the wine in temp-controlled stainless vessels - estufas
45-50C for 3 months
Oxidation permitted - vessels not filled
Wine cooled, rest 6-12 months
Describe Canteiro?
Higher quality than Estufagem
Wine matured in old oak in warm environment
400-700L vessels with headspace for oxidation
25-40C
Evaporation will raise ABV to 19-20% over time
Common adjustments in Madeira?
Add color - caramel
Strip color - carbon fining
Sweetening - RCGM
Define sweetness levels in Madeira?
Not regulated, official terms - producer determined
Extra dry, dry, medium dry, medium sweet/rich, sweet/rich
Style of Sercial?
Extra dry or dry
Lightest colored/bodied
Citrus peel/nutty
Style of Verdelho?
Medium dry
More body/round texture than Sercial
Candied fruit flavors
Style of Boal?
Medium sweet
Fuller bodied
Caramel, chocolate, candied nuts
Style of Malvasia/Malmsey?
Sweet Full bodied Brown High acidity Raisins/caramel
Style of Terrantez?
Medium dry/Medium sweet
Delicate
Citrus peel, caramel, floral
What law changed in 2015?
All Madeira must be labeled with a bottling date
Age indicators for non-vintage Madeira?
5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, more than 50
Verified by IVBAM’s tasting panel
Release of standard blend Madeira’s, and examples?
2-3 years after harvest
“Corrente” by IVBAM
Blandy’s Duke of Clarence
Henriques & Henriques Full Rich Madeira
Describe Rainwater Madeira?
Light style
18% ABV
Medium dry
Maximum age of 10 years
Describe Frasqueira?
AKA Garrafeira Flagship from producer Minimum 20 years aging in wood Single varietal Single vintage - list harvest and bottling years on bottle
Describe Colheita Madeira?
Vintage Madeira
Minimum 5 years aging in wood
New category since 2000, but now made by all producers
Grower/producer ratio?
Over 1000 growers
Eight producers
Three largest Madeira producers?
Justino’s
Madeira Wine Company*
Henriques & Henriques*
*only two to own/rent their own vineyards
How do producers source grapes?
Through a consulting agent that coordinates through harvest
Each producer will work with several hundred growers
Current Madeira sales trends?
Stable for decades
3.2 million L
Colheita/Frasqueira outsells 20-50yr Madeira
Largest markets for Madeira?
France
Madeira
Germany
Japan
Difference in cooking Madeira, and what is the volume?
1/5 of total Madeira sales
May have added salt and pepper
