Madeira

Question 1

What are the two island that Madeira grapes are grown on?

Answer 1

Madeira and Porto Santo

Question 2

What are poios in Madeira?

Answer 2

Basalt stone terraces that ring the island

Question 3

What are the low pergola style trellises called in Madeira?

Answer 3

Latadas

Question 4

What are Levadas in Madeira?

Answer 4

A system of canals that run down from the mountainous interior which often sees precipitation to the vineyards along the coast

Question 5

What governing body oversees the production of Madeira?

Answer 5

Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute of Madeira (IVBAM)

Question 6

Which larger Madeira company produces Blandy’s and Cossart Gordon?

Answer 6

The Madeira Wine Company

Question 7

Which production company is the largest independent producer in Madeira?

Answer 7

Henriques & Henriques

Question 8

What is a selection company in Madeira?

Answer 8

Usually based in London these companies do not make the wine rather they select it from a producer, who will bottle it under their brand, and then they trade and ship it

Question 9

Name a Madeira selection company

Answer 9

Broadbent
Rare Wine Company

Question 10

Name 5 production companies in Madeira

Answer 10

Vinhos Barbeito
Vinhos Justino Henriques
Henriques & Henriques
Madeira wine company
H.M. Borges

Question 11

What are the principle noble white grapes of Madeira?

Answer 11

Sercial, Verdelho, Boal/Bual, Malvasia Branca

Question 12

What is the most widely planted grape on the island of Madeira?

Answer 12

Tinta Negra

Question 13

In Madeira what precent of a grape must be present in order for the wine to be labeled with its name?

Answer 13

Vintage blend: 85%
Vintage dated: 100%

Question 14

Prior to Phyloxera what was Madeiras most planted grape variety?

Answer 14

Verdelho

Question 15

Which two noble grapes were not replanted following Phyloxera?

Answer 15

Bastardo and Terrantez

Question 16

Which of the Madeira grapes are harvested last?

Answer 16

Verdelho and Sercial

Question 17

Which Madeira grapes see a short fermentation on their skins?

Answer 17

Boal and Malvasia

Question 18

What heating process is used in making high quality Madeira?

Answer 18

Canteiro- barrels are stored in lodge attics with exposure to the sun

Question 19

Describe the estufagem process

Answer 19

Wine is put in a large tank that has a metal coil running through it. Hot water passes through the coil to heat the Madeira to about 45-50C (113-122F), this happens for 3 months, allowing the sugars to caramelize, after which the wine rests before being transferred into cask

Question 20

What is the name of the process in which Madeira is put in large heated rooms?

Answer 20

Armanzens de Calor

Question 21

What are the requirements for frasqueira in Madeira?

Answer 21

Vintage dated (85% must be from the stated vintage)
Aged for at least 20yrs in cask
Made from a single noble variety
Produced in the Canteiro method

Question 22

How is Colheita different from Frasqueira Madeira?

Answer 22

Colheita can be from a blend of varietal
Had a min aging requirement of 5yrs prior to bottling

Question 23

What is Vinho de Roda / da Torno / da Volta

Answer 23

Wines that underwent the journey across the equator in a ship - the old school way

Question 24

What are the aging requirements in Madeira for Reserve, Special Reserve, Extra Reserve?

Answer 24

Reserve: at least 5yrs
Special Reserve: at least 10yrs
Extra Reserve: at least 15yrs

Question 25

What are the aging requirements for Vinho de Canteiro

Answer 25

2 years in wood, and may not be bottled for 36 months after the final fortification

Question 26

What are partidistas in Madeira?

Answer 26

Companies that mature barrels of wine to sell to other traders