Madeira Flashcards
The island of Madeira is how many miles from mainland Portugal?
625 miles, 466 miles off the coast of North Africa
What is the capital of Madeira?
Funchal
Funchal, the name of the city is named from what?
named after the funcho or fennel found growing there
What was the principal crop in Madeira before vines?
Sugar cane, the most important crop on the island at the beginning of the sixteenth century, declined in importance after 1570 when Brazil (discovered by the Portuguese in 1500) became a cheaper source. As sugar’s importance declined, vines took the place of sugar cane as the principal crop and madeira wine was exported to France and England.
What important figure introducedthe Malvasia Babosa grape to the island of Madeira and when?
Simon Acciaioli in 1515
Speak of the importance of William Bolton, and his relation to Madeira in the 17th century:
Madeira Shipper, shipping to the West Indies, New York, Boston, England, and Ireland. He also imported food, raw materials, and manufactured items to Madeira and other parts of the world. His letters illustrate strategic importance of Madeira for Atlantic shipping.
Describe Madeira’s influence on the US in the 18th century
The American market accounted for between 50 and 80 per cent of total production. Such was madeira’s reputation in America that it was reputedly used by Thomas Jefferson to toast the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and George Washington’s inauguration in 1789 was similarly toasted with madeira wine. The history of Madeira’s trade with America between 1640 and 1815, and its impact on American society, is covered in detail in David Hancock’s scholarly book Oceans of Wine.
Explain Mock Madeira in the 18th century
Demand increased supply, wines from the Canaires, the Azores, and the Portugal mainland were imported into Funchal and then reexported as Maderia.
Fortification in Madeira wines is mentioned when?
1530
Explain Estufa in Madeira production
Artificial heating the tanks of wine accelerating its development and maturation. The heating process Itself is called estufagem. Estufas simulate the effects of the long tropical sea voyages in the 18th and 19th centuries when madeira (and setúbal) was, at first accidentally and then deliberately, stowed in the hold of a ship to age prematurely as a result of the temperature changes involved in a round trip, or torna viagem, across the tropics
Describe the style of Rainwater Madeira:
Pale and delicate, light, off-dry style of madeira bottled before it is five years old and named after wine which was supposedly diluted by rain during shipment to the United States. Rainwater madeira is still made in small quantities, although the law is vague on what exactly constitutes the style. Favored historically by Virginia.
How was Oidium Tucker’s ( Powdery Mildew) treated when it arrived on the island in the 1850’s?
Dusting the leaves of vines with sulphur. The highly prized Terrantez grape was early lost altogether. The american Isabella vine, which is resistant to odium, was widely planted on the island. It took a full decade for the island to recover to normal production.
Describe setbacks for Madeira in the 19th century
The American Civil Was (1861-65) temporarily closed the lucrative market. Phylloxera reached Madeira in the 1860’s. Some believe it was brought on some cuttings from North America. It was first noticed on the island in 1872, four years after it hit mainland Portugal. The fungus did not thrive on sandy soils so some vineyards survived. Some vineyards that have died were replaced with sugar cane.
When did Maderia received Região Dearcada status?
1908
