Madeira wines (22)

Madeira is well-known, among other things, for the wine that shares its name. A Madeira wine carries the quality seal DOC – Denominação de Origem Controlada. Madeira means sea, volcanic rock, sunshine, and is literally translated as "wood."

Aromatic Variety of Madeira Wine

The dessert wine Madeira is bursting with diverse aromas and beautifully symbolizes the rich island archipelago. The fruity aromas of Madeira wine include orange, lemon, or apricot. Nut, coffee, honey, or vanilla are other natural aromas found in the popular liqueur wine. Madeira wine also harmonizes with the pleasant scent of chocolate, toffee, or caramel. The noble variety in the bouquet promises pure enjoyment.

A Fortunate Coincidence Improves Madeira Wine

Surrounded by the blue Atlantic Ocean, Madeira has long been an important hub for shipping. The maritime trade during the Age of Discovery, of course, could not occur without the fragrant Madeira wine. The fortified wine was stored in large wooden barrels in the hulls of the Portuguese naos. The two- and three-masted ships set sail on their long trading voyages from Madeira to far-off destinations. South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Indonesian archipelago regions were very pleased to receive the dessert wine. In the New World, the charismatic wine was certainly also sought after.

Seafaring during the Age of Discovery was arduous. Above all, the maritime trading voyages extended over an extremely long period. Due to the continuous ups and downs of the waves and the persistent warmth of the tropical climate, a fortunate coincidence occurred for Madeira wine. The sugar, which is abundant in the liqueur wine, caramelized and resulted in a more intense, rounder, and superior taste. The sailors and early vintners of Madeira wine quickly realized this. For decades, they adhered to the insights gained to improve the dessert wine and sailed with it to many parts of the world. Today, a similar method is still used. It is no longer necessary to store the aromatic Madeira wine on ships and find the needed warmth in southern regions. Today, the wine is uniformly heated and vinified over months in huge concrete or stainless steel barrels.

Grape Varieties from the Island of Madeira

The wine-growing region of Madeira features several grape varieties that create its unmistakable taste. Ultimately, the taste is classified as dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, and sweet. The following grape varieties are commonly used today for the vinification of Madeira wine.

• Sercial
• Verdelho (occasionally also referred to as Verdelho Tinto)
• Bual
• Malmsey

The Terroir of the Madeira Wine Region

The volcanic rock of the island of Madeira provides excellent conditions for the ripening of wine grapes. The steep slopes in the mountainous northern and southern terrain of the island require terrace cultivation. Since the northern regions are higher above sea level than the south, significantly more rainfall occurs in the northern areas of Madeira. Through a canal system known as Levada, rainwater from the north and the island's center is channeled into the southern wine-growing areas. The Levadas are narrow canals that are equipped with accompanying walking paths for tourism. The soils consist, in addition to volcanic rock, of clay and loam. They contain many minerals that promote the pleasant acidity of Madeira wine. Intense sunlight provides the white and red grape varieties with rich warmth.

The Climate in Madeira

Madeira's climate is subtropical. The volcanic island maintains nearly consistent temperatures year-round (between 19 and 26ºC). In late spring and the main summer months, there are an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day. The north is rainy, while the south, especially near the capital Funchal, is relatively dry. This contrast can sometimes be observed on the island of Madeira in just one day. Rainfall increases during the winter months. Nevertheless, the climate in Madeira offers many opportunities to enjoy wonderfully beautiful sunny days and warm water temperatures.

Buy Madeira Wines Online at VINELLO

In the selection of the online wine store VINELLO.de, you will find an extensive selection of wines from Portuguese Madeira. Discover dry and sweet, dark and light delicacies with the DOC quality seal from Madeira on VINELLO.de. Our service caters to your needs: Convenient payment in our shop, fast and secure shipping almost worldwide. 

Write to us if you have any wishes or questions. You can reach us via email at [email protected]. Call us; we are happy to speak with you and provide detailed advice. Our telephone number is 0351 – 469 256 55. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram @vinello_wine. We look forward to hearing from you!