Madeira Flashcards
Grapes of Madeira
Sercial Verdelho Boal Malvasia Fina Terrantez Malvasia Candida Bastardo Tinta Negra(Mole) (80%)
Which grape grow at high altitude and which for lowest
Sercial - highest
Malvasia - lowest
Grapes from driest to sweetest
Sercial - dry
Verdelho - off dry
Bual (Boal) - medium sweet
Malvasia (Malmsey) - very sweet
Topography of Madeira
Volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean (Portugal)
Vines grow on the hillside in small plots called poios or terraces all around the coast of the island.
Some vines are grown on trellises like Vinho Verde, allowing crops to be grown below them (there is shortage of cultivated land on this volcanic island)
Soil of Madeira
Soil is volcanic origin, topsoil was enriched in the 15th century by 7 years fire, which burned all the forest, making the soil excellent for viticulture
If no name of grape on the bottle which grape would it be?
Tinta Negra (Mole)
4 styles of Madeira
Dry
Medium dry
Medium rich
RIch
Production of Madeira
- Grapes harvested and pressed
- Full maceration on the skins - in auto-vinificators to produce sweet and medium sweet wines, but for dry wines no skin maceration!
- For sweet wines fermentation stop at 5-6%, for dry higher.
- Madeira fortified with 96% abv brandy from France and Spain up to 17%abv.
Heating by 2 methods : Estufa or Canteiro. - LOWER QUALITY WINES are placed in estufas (large tanks which have coils inside to heat the wine)
- Temperature is raised to 45-50 C, allowed to cool, raised again and cool again over a period of 90 days. (this process imitate ship voyages which cross and re-cross the equator)
- During this wine takes on oxidative and caramel character.
- Wine is blended
- Matured in a tank
- Bottled
- HIGHER QUALITY WINES are put in casks and placed near the roofs of wine storage rooms for approximately 18 months where the heat of the sun heats the wines in a more gentle fashion. (This is Canteiro system).
- Cask are then moved to cooler parts of building
- Every year they are topped up with exactly the same wine
- (Many producers add caramel for colour and flavour)
What is Canteiro system?
High quality wines put in casks and placed near the roofs of wine storage rooms for approximately 18 months where the heat of the sun heats the wines in a more gentle fashion.
wine sold under the grape name how much % must have?
85%
Madeira styles
Sercial Verdelho Boal (Bual) Malmsey Rainwater
Sercial style
Driest style
Light amber color and has almond character, excellent with consommé or as an aperitif
Grape grown 800 m (last pick up)
Verdelho style
Medium dry wine
Darker color, ideal with aperitif, consommé other soup
Grape grown 400-600 m
Boal (Bual) style
Medium sweet more complex
Slightly darker
Grape grow below 400 m (first to be picked)
Suitable for the end of meal or on its own
Malmsey style
Malvasia grapes
Sweet, luscious and suited as an after dinner drink
Grapes grow below 300 m
Rainwater style
Name was born - in the 18th century Madeira was left out under the rain, casks absorbed some rainwater.
Lighter in style
It is now Cossart Gordon brand name for a light, med-dry style Madeira
Vintage or Frasqueira Madeira
- Made from 100% of the named varietal
- Must matured 20 years in wood + 2 years in bottle
Colheita
- From single vintage and single grape
- Must matured in oak min 5 years + 1 year in btl
Extra Reserve
min age of youngest wine in the blend is 15 years in wood
Special or Old Reserve
min age of youngest wine - 10 years in wood
Reserve
min age of youngest wines - 5 years
Finest
matured 3 years (usually in tanks)
