Madeira

Question 1

Where can Madeira be produced?

Answer 1

2 islands : Madeira & Porto Santo.

Question 2

What are poios?

Answer 2

Basalt stone lined terraces in Madeira.

Question 3

Which vine trainings are used in Madeira?

Answer 3

• Pergola system

with vines suspended on low trellises known as latadas.

Question 4

What are levadas?

Answer 4

A system of canals used for agriculture in Madeira.

Question 5

Who controls madeira production?

Answer 5

• Instituto do Vinho, do Bordado e do Artesanato da Madeira

- The Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute of Madeira (IVBAM).

Question 6

How many companies are registered with (IVBAM) for Madeira production?

Answer 6

• 8 (6 for export)

Question 7

Name the main producers of Madeira.

Answer 7

• Vinhos Justino Henriques (largest) - 1870
• Madeira Wine Company - 1913 (1981)
• Henriques & Henriques - 1850
• Vinhos Barbeito - 1946
• Pereira d’Oliveira - 1850
• H. M. Borges - 1877
• J. Faria & Filhos - 1949
• Madeira Vintners - 2013

Question 8

Which Madeira brands are under Madeira Wine Company?

Answer 8

• Blandy’s
• Cossart Gordon
• Leacock’s & Miles

Question 9

Who is a “Partidistas”?

Answer 9

Partidistas, store the wine and sell it at maturity to other traders for a profit, make up the third category. Partidistas are similar to the almacenistas of the Sherry trade.

Question 10

What are the grapes for Madeira?

Answer 10

• Sercial (Esgana Cão)
• Verdelho
• Boal (Bual, Malvasia Fina)
• Malmsey (Malvasia Branca de São Jorge)
• Tinta Negra

Question 11

Which noble grape varieties of the 19th Century were not replanted in Madeira after phylloxera?

Answer 11

• Bastardo Tinta

- Terrantez

Question 12

At what sweetness level is Terrazntez made in Madeira?

Answer 12

Terrantez is usually made at a sweetness level similar to Verdelho.

Question 13

Which process does Madeira undergo post fermentation?

Answer 13

• Estufagem - Temperature controlled tanks - 90 days

- Canteiro - Oak aged - stored near the roof of the storage room for 18 months.

Question 14

How long are Estufagem wines aged?

Answer 14

2 years.

Question 15

How long are Canteiro wines aged?

Answer 15

3 years.

Question 16

List Madeira based on style from dry to sweet.

Answer 16

• Sercial - dry - light amber colour - aperitif
• Verdelho - off dry - darker amber - aperitif
• Boal - med sweet - slightly darker - digestif
• Malmsey - luscious - deep amber - digestif

Question 17

What is the residual sugar for Sercial?

Answer 17

• 18 to 65 g/L.

Question 18

What is the residual sugar for Verdelho?

Answer 18

• 49 to 78 g/L.

Question 19

What is the residual sugar for Boal?

Answer 19

• 78 to 96 g/L.

Question 20

What is the residual sugar for Malmsey?

Answer 20

• 96 to 135 g/L.

Question 21

What is Rainwater Madeira?

Answer 21

• Usually 100% Tinta Negra
• Medium dry and light in style
• Youngest wine in the blend is min. 3 yrs old

Question 22

What is Frasqueira Madeira?

Answer 22

• Single Vintage Madeira (85% minimum required)
• Aged min. 20 years in oak + 2 years in bottle.
• 100% named varietal

Question 23

What is “Colheita” or “Harvest” Madeira?

Answer 23

• Single Vintage Madeira (85% minimum required)
• Aged min. 5 years in oak + 1 year in bottle.
• 100% named varietal

Question 24

What does the term “Extra Reserve” on a bottle of Madeira mean?

Answer 24

• Min age of the youngest wine in the blend is 15 years in oak.

Question 25

What does the term “Special” or “Old Reserve” on a bottle of Madeira mean?

Answer 25

• Min age of the youngest wine in the blend is 10 years in oak.

Question 26

What does the term “Reserve” on a bottle of Madeira mean?

Answer 26

• Min age of the youngest wine in the blend is 5 years in oak.

Question 27

What does the term “Finest” or “Seleccionado” on a bottle of Madeira mean?

Answer 27

• Matured for min. 3 years in a tank.

Question 28

What is “Vinho da Roda”, “Vinho da Torno” or “Vinho da Volta”?

Answer 28

A rare style of Madeira in which wines so labeled undergo an ocean journey across the equator which was the original way in which Madeira was produced.