Madeira & Marsala

Question 1

What is the climate of Madeira?

What is the soil?

Answer 1

Sub Tropical

Volcanic

Question 2

What is the name for the terraces of Madeira?

What is the vine training technique here and why is it used?

Answer 2

Poios

Pergola, called Latadas
needed to combat fungal disease in the damp environment.

Question 3

What are the canals called that channel rainfall through vineyards in Madeira?

Answer 3

Levadas

Question 4

What organization regulates Madeira production?

Answer 4

IVBAM

Wine Embroidery and Handicraft Institute of Madeira

Question 5

What are the 3 types of companies involved in Madeira?

Answer 5

Producers-there are 8

Shippers-purchase wine from producers which they bottle under their own label.

Partidistas-mature wines then sell em later

Question 6

Who are the 8 producers of Madeira?

Answer 6

Vinhos Justino Henriques
Madeira Wine Company
Henriques & Henriques
H.M. Borges
Pereira d’Oliveira
Vinhos Barbeito
Faria & Filhos
Madeira Vintners Co-op

Question 7

If a variety and vintage are on the label of a bottle of Madeira, what % must it be?

Answer 7

100%

Question 8

If just a variety is on the label for blends of vintages, what percent of that grape must Madeira be?

Answer 8

85%

Question 9

What grape accounts for 85% of Madeira production?

What year was it upgraded to a recommended grape, able to appear on labels?

Answer 9

Tinta Negra Mole

2015

Question 10

What are the other grapes of Madeira? (after TNM)

Answer 10

Sercial
Verdelho
Terrantez
Boal
Malmsey

Question 11

Which two Madeira grapes are typically harvested last, and pressed off the skins?

Answer 11

Sercial and Verdelho

Question 12

Which two Madeira grapes are typically harvested first, and fermented on the skins?

Answer 12

Boal and Malmsey

Question 13

When does fortification occur for Madeira?

What is used?

Answer 13

Depends on the sweetness desired.

French neutral grape spirit (96%)

Question 14

What is the Estufagem method for Madeira production?

Answer 14

wines cook under direct heat in stainless steel vats heated by water, for at least 3 months, and rest for at least 3 months.

Question 15

What is the Armazens de Calor method for Madeira production?

Answer 15

Wines will cook via indirect heat in stainless steel vats, a room heated by steam. It takes longer, up to a year.

Question 16

What is the top method for producing Madeira?

Answer 16

Canteiro Method

Wines age in cask, for at least 2 years heated naturally by Mother Nature.

Question 17

How long must Madeira wines wait for release from harvest date?

Answer 17

2 years for Estufagem and Armazens
3 years for Canteiro

Question 18

What is a Frasqueira?

Answer 18

A top Madeira, made by Canteiro method, aged for 20 years or more in cask.

Question 19

What is the average r/s for the 4 major Madeira varietal bottlings?

Answer 19

Sercial 18-65
Verdelho 49-78
Bual 78-96
Malmsey 96-135

Question 20

What is required of a Colheita Madeira?

Answer 20

single vintage, min 5 years in cask

can be a blend or single varietal

Question 21

A Rainwater Madeira is what grape?

Answer 21

Tinta Negra

Question 22

A blended Reserva Madeira will be aged how long?

Answer 22

5-10 years

Question 23

Reserva Especial and Extra Reserve Madeiras are aged how long?

What else defines their style?

Answer 23

Reserva Especial is 10-15 years old
Extra Reserve is 15-20 years old

Typically these are single varietal and Canteiro method.

Question 24

A Madeira utilizing a Solera may bottle how much each year? How many times may wine be added?

Answer 24

10% per year.

10 times total

Question 25

What happened to a Madeira labeled
Vinho da Roda, Vinho da Torno or Vinho da Volta?

Answer 25

It actually went on a boat across the equator.

Question 26

What is Sercial known as on mainland Portugal?

Answer 26

Esgana Cao

Question 27

What types of Malvasia are Bual and Malmsey?

Answer 27

Bual is Malvasia Fina

Malmsey is Malvasia Branca de Sao Jorge

Question 28

Who and when: Marsala first made?

Answer 28

John Woodhouse 1773

Question 29

When is Marsala fortified?

Answer 29

Depends on the sweetness desired.

Question 30

What are Mosto Cotto and Sifone?

Answer 30

sweeteners used to adjust a Marsala wines r.s. and color

Question 31

What are the 3 colors of Marsala?

Answer 31

Ambra
Oro
Rubino

Question 32

Whats in an Ambra Marsala?

Answer 32

made from white grapes, a lower quality style that can be sweetened with Mosto Cotto

Question 33

What white grapes are preferred for Marsala?

Answer 33

Catarrato, Grillo, Inzolia/Ansonica, Grecanico, Damaschino

Question 34

What red grapes are preferred for Rubino Marsala?

What % white grapes can join the party?

Answer 34

Perricone, Calabrese (nero d’avola), Nerello Mascalese

max 30% white

Question 35

For Marsala sweetness, what are the ranges for these terms.

Secco
Semisecco
Dolce

Answer 35

Secco - less than 40g/L
Semisecco - 40 to100g/L
Dolce - min 100g/L

Question 36

Define these age terms for Marsala

Fine
Superiore
Superiore Riserva

Answer 36

1 year
2 years
4 years

Question 37

Vergine Marsala ages for how long?
and Vergine Stravecchio?

How do these 2 styles differ from the younger ones?

Answer 37

5 years
10 years

they are fortified after fermentation and addition of Mosto Cotto/Sifone are prohibited

Question 38

What is the Concia process? For which styles is it allowed or not allowed?

Answer 38

The addition of Mosto Cotto to Marsala.

Required for Ambra, prohibited for Oro and Rubino

Question 39

What is the minimum ABV for Marsala pre fortification?

Excluding Fine Marsala, what is the minimum ABV for all fortified styles?

Answer 39

12%

18%

Question 40

Before John Woodhouse, the wines made in Marsala that he eventually discovered were called what?

Answer 40

Vino Perpetuo or Perpetuum (solera)