Madeira Flashcards
How far is Madeira from Morocco?
600km
Island of Madeira discovered when?
1419
Colonised by Portugese merchants and their labourers
Wine replaced what to become the main export on Madeira (16th Century)
Sugar
Threats to Madeira growing in the 19th and 20th centuries
Powdery mildew
Phylloxera (mid to late 19thC) = destroy vines, reduce yields
Prohibition, World Wars, Russian Revolution = hit business
Changing consumer tastes
Portugal became part of the EU when?
1986
Madeira climate
Warm summers (20-22C average) Mild winters (16-17C) Lack of winter dormancy a problem in warmest sites Mountainous island with range of microclimates Coolest temperatures at altitude
Land under vine in Madeira
450ha
(total area is 74,000ha0
Highest altitudes for vineyards in Madeira
800m
Soils in Madeira
Volcanic origin, high in nutrients
Plentiful rain
= fertile conditions, vigorous vines
Grape varieties in Madeira
Tinta Negra Sercial Verdelho Boal Malvasia Terrantez
What happened to grape varieties in Madeira after phylloxera?
Vitis vinifera replaced with hybrids and American vines
Resistant to pests and disease = large reliable crops
But lower quality
EU schemes helped pull a lot of these out but some remain (not allowed for Madeira though)
Main vinifera grape variety planted since phylloxera?
Tinta Negra
High yields, easy to grow
“Recommended” category
Tinta Negra
Black grape Most planted on island High yield, easy to grow Since 2015: grape name allowed on label Used for Madeira labelled by sweetness rather than grape variety All sweetness levles
Sercial
High acidity Driest styles of Madeira Late ripening - last picked in cool sites (barely above min level of potential alcohol) Resists powdery mildew Risk of Botrytis Poor fruit set Small plantings
Verdelho
Second most planted vinifera variety High acid (slightly lower than Sercial) Botrytis, coulure, downy, powdery
Boal
Umbrella term
Boal Cachudo on Madeira (aka Malvasia Fina, from White Port)
Warm, low altitude sites, south of island
Drought = needs irrigation
Semi-sweet
Malvasia
Umbrella term Malvasia Candida historically important Today Malvasia de Sao Jorge High yields Botrytis
Terrantez
Very limited plantings
Powdery, botrytis
Picked soon after reaches 9%abv
Vine training system on madeira
Pergola system called “latadas”
Allows air circulation above and beneath vine = reduce fungal in humid climate
Other crops grown underneath, effective use of small landholing
Also cordon trained, VSP (espaldeira)
Disease pressure high or low in Madeira?
High
Warm, humid climate
Downy mildew, botrytis, phomopsis
Use canopy management and spraying fungicide
Irrigation practised in Madeira?
Yes, widely
Rainwater carried from centre of island to vineyard areas by irrigation channel called Levadas
What are Levadas?
Irrigation channels on Madeira
What are Latadas?
Vine training pergola system in Madiera
Irrigation needed more on south of Madeira, why?
Lower rainfall in south
When is harvest in Madeira?
Late Aug, early Sept
Decided by IVBAM in consultation with growers
Hand or machine harvest?
Hand usually, given topography
Minimum potential alcohol?
9%
Grapes picked at no more than 11% generally
What are the deciding factors for grape prices in Madeira?
Grape health Grape variety (traditional Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia and Terrantez higher price than Tinta Negra)