Madeira Wines
Madeira Islands

Wines of Portugal

Autonomous Region of Madeira

IGP Terras Madeirenses

The Madeira Archipelago, in the various terroirs of the demarcated area of the Island from Madeira, produces fortified wines* of international fame.
The archipelago's main product, Madeira Wine, with great potential for guard, is one of the flagships of the local economy and a symbol of Madeira around the world.

A fame that comes from afar

The fame of Madeira Wine comes from afar: on July 4, 1776, the Independence of the United States of America was celebrated with a toast of Madeira wine. And in world literature, the famous writers Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky cite the Madeira Wine in some works.

Appetizer or digestif

The popular Madeira wine, always present from snacks among friends to big occasions, accompanies, preferably the delicacies of the land.

"The famous Madeira wine, whose best-known varieties are Sercial, Boal, Verdelho, Malvasia, Terrantez and Tinta Negra [see below], can be appreciated as an aperitif or digestive", makes it a first choice accompaniment on Madeiran tables [Visit Portugal].


The fortified wines (whose alcoholic content varies from 14% to 23% - the wines unfortified are around 12%) are added a distilled beverage in a way to stop its natural fermentation.

In addition to certified wines IGP Terras Madeirenses, whose alcohol content ranges from 14 to 23%, two PDOs are produced in the region:

• the PDO Madeira

• the PDO Madeirense.

Vineyards in Madeira

"Discovered by Portuguese navigators in 1418, Madeira Island soon aroused the interest of Infante D. Henrique who considered it privileged for planting the vine and sugar cane, as he introduced its cultivation on the island, ordering it from Greece, "Malvasia," strains originating in Napoli di Malvasia, near Sparta" [IVV].

A long tradition

The cultivation of vines, in Madeira, is done by making the most of cultivable spaces: the vine, cultivated on the outskirts, "generally arranged in trellises or branches, is similar to what we found in Minho".

"Vineyards occupy, in this rural world, around 1700 ha and are mainly used for the production of VLQPRD Madeira", a product that was already exported in the 17th century. for this crop are the sunny slopes facing south where, in its high form, the vine gives shelter to other cultures, although it is also cultivated in a low way, especially in the vicinity of the sea" [IVV].

IGP Madeiran Lands

IGP Terras Madeirenses wines are red, white and rosé, made under the legislation that applies according to income..

Red and pink grape varieties

The authorized grape varieties are: "Aragonez (Tinta Roriz), Bastardo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Complexa, Deliciosa, Malvasia Cândida Roxa (Malvasia Roxa), Merlot, Syrah, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Negra (Tinta Negra Mole), Touriga Franca (Touriga Francesa) and Touriga Nacional" [IVV].

White grape varieties

Authorized white varieties are: "Arinto, Arnsburger, Carão de Moça, Chardonnay, Chenin, Folgasão (Terrantez),Malvasia Branca de São Jorge, Malvasia Cândida, Malvasia Fina (Boal), Sauvignon, Sercial, Tália (Ugni Blanc) and Verdelho" [Idem].

PDO Wood

Demarcated area

"The geographical area corresponding to the Denomination of Controlled Origin "Madeira" coincides with with the area of the Autonomous Region of Madeira suitable for growing vines and covering the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo" [IVV].

Types of Wine

• Vinho de Canteiro: Wine made alcoholic during or shortly after fermentation, and then stored in casks where it ages for a period minimum of 2 years. It can only be considered in past bottling conditions, at least 36 months after the last alcohol use [IVV].

• Stuffing Wine: Aging by stewing can only be be carried out at a temperature not exceeding 50°C and for a period never less than 3 months. The wine can only be bottled at least 12 months after stewing {Ditto].

• Colheita: Wine from a single harvest, with the right to the indication date of the respective harvest. It can only be bottled from the 31st of October fifth year from the date of the vintage [Ibid.].

• Garrafeira or Frasqueira: 20 years in wood [Ibid.].

• Solera: Bottling can only be done after 5 years in hull; of each hull can only be removed annually, at most, 10% of existing wine [Ibid.].

Recommend grape varieties

• Red: Bastardo, Malvasia Cândida Roxa (Malvasia Roxa), Tinta (Tinta da Madeira),Tinta Negra (Tinta Negra Mole) and Verdelho Tinto.

• White: Folgasão (Terrantez1), Malvasia Fina (Boal1), Malvasia Cândida, Sercial and Verdelho.

Autorizad grape varieties

• Red: Complexa, Deliciosa and Tiunfo.

• White: Babosa, Malvasia Babosa, Caracol, Carão de Moça, Listrão, Moscatel, Rio Grande and Valveirinho.

DOP Madeirense

Demarcated area

"The geographical area corresponding to the Denomination of Controlled Origin "Madeira" coincides with with the area of the Autonomous Region of Madeira suitable for growing vines and covering the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo" [IVV].

Madeirense DOP wines are red, white and rosé, made under the legislation that applies according to income..

Recommend grapes varieties

• Red: Bastardo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Complexa, Deliciosa, Malvasia Cândida Roxa (Malvasia Roxa), Maria Feld, Merlot, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Negra (Tinta Negra Mole), Touriga Franca (Touriga Francesa) and Touriga Nacional [IVV].

• White: Arnsburger, Carão de Moça, Chardonnay, Chenin, Folgasão (Terrantez), Lilás (Alvarinho Lilás), Malvasia Bianca, Malvasia Branca de São Jorge, MalvasiaCândida, Malvasia Fina (Boal), Rio Grande, Sauvignon, Sercial, Tália (Ugni Blanc) and Verdelho [Idem].

Gastronomy

Lovers of good food will have many opportunities to taste the typical snacks and specialties of the varied and traditional cuisine of Madeira.

Find out more: Madeira Gastronomy

Fortified wines

(*) The fortified wines undergo the addition of an alcoholic beverage (cognac or brandy, for example) during its elaboration in order to stop its natural fermentation. This one process increases the alcoholic gradation of the wine (hence the term fortified), which in On the other hand, it also increases your guard potential. These are wines that travel more in time.

It was even one of the wines that the Portuguese navigators brought in their caravels when of the Discovery of Brazil.