Fortified Wines - Madeira Flashcards
Madeira’s climate?
Warm Mediterranean climate
What soils are found in Madeira?
Madeira has volcanic soils: Saibro (decomposed red tufa), cascalho (stony soil), Pedra molle (arenaceous soil of decomposed yellow tufa) and Massapes (clay resulting from the decomposition of dark tufa)
What soils are found in Porto Santo?
Volcanic and limestone
What is a Poio?
Basalt stone terraces. They ring the island’s permiter like steps on the nearly vertical mountainside, and support viticulture on the vertiginous incline.
White Madeira grape varietals
Sercial (Esgagna Cão)
Verdelho Branco
Boal (Malvasia Fina)
Malmsey (Malvasia Branca de São Jorge))
Terrantez
Complexa
Red Madeira grape varietals
Tinta Negra
Bastardo
Verdelho Tinto
Production methods
After fortification, the young wine is then subjected to either the ESTUFAGEM or CANTEIRO process, two modern heating methods that lend Madeira its distinctive character.
Explain the Estufagem process
Most wines are transferred to the ESTUFA, a stainless steel vat that warms the wine by circulatiing hot water through serpentine coils inside the tank. In this method the wine is heated to a temperature of 45-50º C and held there for at least three months. During this period, sugars in the wine will slowly caramelize and give the estufa wine its distinctive character.
Once the Estufagem process is completed, the wine enters a period of rest ESTÁGIO for a minimum 90 days before being transferred to cask for aging. Estufagem wines may not be released until two years after harvest.
Explain the Canteiro process
Finally, producers use the Canteiro method for their best wines. In this process, the wine are cask-aged for a period of at least two years in lodge attics. In this manner, the wine is exposed to the gentler, natural warmth of the sun as it undergoes a much slower process of maturation, preventing the burnt caramelization of sugars and resulting bitter flavors associated with rapid heating.
Although Canteiro wines may be bottled at a minimum three years of age, the best Vinhos de Canteiro will remain in cask for 20 years or more, developing into the rarest and most treasured wines of the island: Frasqueiras.
Madeira Multi-Vintage Blends
- Rainwater
- Seleccionado
- Reserve
- Special Reserve
- Extra REserve
- 5-10-15-20-30-40 Years Old, Over 50 Years Old
- Solera
Describe a Rainwater Madeira
100% Tinta Negra. The wine is medium dry and light in style
Describe a Seleccionado Madeira
Such bottles are often labeled “Finest”, “Choice”, or “Select”, and include a blended wine that is at least 3 years old but below five years of age.
These wines are dominated by the Tinta Negra grape, heated in Estufagem and aged in tank rather than cask.
Describe a Reserve Madeira
Designation that may be used for wine that is 5 years of age or older byt below 10 years of age
Describe a Special Reserve Madeira
Designation that may be used for wine that is 10 years of age or older but below 15 years of age.
Wines of this category are often made of a single noble variety, heated by the Canteiro method.
Describe a Extra Reserve Madeira
Designation that may be used for wine that is 15 years of age or older but below 20 years of age
