Madeira & Marsala Flashcards by Brian Hogue

What is the climate of Madeira?

What is the soil?

Sub Tropical

Volcanic

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the name for the terraces of Madeira?

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

Poios

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

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

Levadas

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What organization regulates Madeira production?

IVBAM

Wine Embroidery and Handicraft Institute of Madeira

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 3 types of companies involved in Madeira?

Producers-there are 8

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

Partidistas-mature wines then sell em later

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who are the 8 producers of Madeira?

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

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

100%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

85%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What grape accounts for 85% of Madeira production?

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

Tinta Negra Mole

2015

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

Sercial
Verdelho
Terrantez
Boal
Malmsey

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

Sercial and Verdelho

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

Boal and Malmsey

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When does fortification occur for Madeira?

What is used?

Depends on the sweetness desired.

French neutral grape spirit (96%)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the Estufagem method for Madeira production?

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

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the Armazens de Calor method for Madeira production?

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

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the top method for producing Madeira?

Canteiro Method

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

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

2 years for Estufagem and Armazens
3 years for Canteiro

What is a Frasqueira?

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

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

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

What is required of a Colheita Madeira?

single vintage, min 5 years in cask

can be a blend or single varietal

A Rainwater Madeira is what grape?

Tinta Negra

A blended Reserva Madeira will be aged how long?

5-10 years

Reserva Especial and Extra Reserve Madeiras are aged how long?

What else defines their style?

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

Typically these are single varietal and Canteiro method.

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

10% per year.

10 times total

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

It actually went on a boat across the equator.

What is Sercial known as on mainland Portugal?

Esgana Cao

What types of Malvasia are Bual and Malmsey?

Bual is Malvasia Fina Malmsey is Malvasia Branca de Sao Jorge

Who and when: Marsala first made?

John Woodhouse 1773

When is Marsala fortified?

Depends on the sweetness desired.

What are Mosto Cotto and Sifone?

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

What are the 3 colors of Marsala?

Ambra Oro Rubino

Whats in an Ambra Marsala?

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

What white grapes are preferred for Marsala?

Catarrato, Grillo, Inzolia/Ansonica, Grecanico, Damaschino

What red grapes are preferred for Rubino Marsala? What % white grapes can join the party?

Perricone, Calabrese (nero d'avola), Nerello Mascalese max 30% white

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

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

Define these age terms for Marsala Fine Superiore Superiore Riserva

1 year 2 years 4 years

Vergine Marsala ages for how long? and Vergine Stravecchio? How do these 2 styles differ from the younger ones?

5 years 10 years they are fortified after fermentation and addition of Mosto Cotto/Sifone are prohibited

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

The addition of Mosto Cotto to Marsala. Required for Ambra, prohibited for Oro and Rubino

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

12% 18%

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

Vino Perpetuo or Perpetuum (solera)