Madeira Styles

Question 1

In order of sweetness, what are the varieties permitted to be labelled on Madeira wine?

Answer 1

Sercial
Verdelho
Terrantez
Bual
Malmsey
Tinta Negra (can be any sweetness)

Question 2

In order of sweetness, what are the sweetness levels that may be labelled on Madeira wine?

Answer 2

Extra Dry
Dry
Medium Dry
Medium Sweet / Medium Rich
Sweet / Rich

Question 3

True or False

Sweetness categories in Madiera are not uniform among producers

Answer 3

True. There is no required sugar level in each sweetness level and some levels may overlap among producers

Question 4

True or False

In Madeira, any grape variety may be used to produce any sweetness level

Answer 4

False. Varieties are associated with particular styles of Madeira

Question 5

What sweetness level of Madeira does Sercial produce?

Answer 5

Extra Dry or Dry

Question 6

What is the character of Sercial Madeira?

Answer 6

Extra Dry or Dry with the lightest color and body of the Madeiras. It has notes of citrus peel and nuts

Question 7

What sweetness level of Madeira does Verdelho produce?

Answer 7

Medium Dry

Question 8

What is the character of Verdelho Madeira?

Answer 8

Medium Dry with a slight sweetness that gives the impression of sweeter flavors, such as candied fruits.

Question 9

What sweetness level of Madeira does Bual produce?

Answer 9

Medium Sweet / Medium Rich

Question 10

What is the character of Bual Madeira?

Answer 10

Medium Sweet with darker color and flavors of caramel, chocolate, and candied nuts

Question 11

What sweetness level of Madeira does Malmsey produce?

Answer 11

Sweet / Rich

Question 12

What is the character of Malmsey Madeira?

Answer 12

Sweet with a full body and brown color. It has high acidity to balance its sweetness and offers raisin and caramel aromas

Question 13

What sweetness level of Madeira does Terrantez produce?

Answer 13

Medium Dry to Medium Sweet

Question 14

What is the character of Terrantez Madeira?

Answer 14

Medium Dry to Medium Sweet with a delicate quality despite higher sugar levels. Aromas can include citrus peel and caramel, sometimes with floral notes

Question 15

What sweetness level of Madeira does Tinta Negra produce?

Answer 15

All sweetness levels

Question 16

What is the character of Tinta Negra Madeira?

Answer 16

They can be produced at any sweetness level and therefore have a range of character

Question 17

Do varietal Madeira wines require an indication of sweetness on the label? Do they require a bottling date?

Answer 17

They do not require sweetness to be listed but do require a bottling date

Question 18

What are the ages permitted to be indicated on Madeira?

Answer 18

10
20
30
40
50
'More than 50'

Question 19

True or False

The indication of age in Madeira is an indication of style that has no bearing on how long the wines have been aged.

Answer 19

True. IVBAM representatives taste the wines to ensure the age indication matches the style intended for release.

Question 20

How are age indicated Madeira verified for style?

Answer 20

An IVBAM tasting panel assesses the wine. The batches used to produce the wine must be verified and accounted for.

Question 21

What variety tends to be used for 5 Year Old Madeira? What maturation system is most likely to be used?

Answer 21

Tinta Negra from the Estufagem system

Question 22

What is the typical quality and pricing of 5 Year Old Madeira?

Answer 22

Good to very good quality and mid-priced

Question 23

Is Tinta Negra used in the production of 10 Year Old Madeira?

Answer 23

More frequently now, but the white varieties are still preferred

Question 24

Are both Estufagem and Canteiro systems used in the production of 10 Year Old and older Madeira?

Answer 24

Wines produced by the Canteiro system are always used in older Madeira, though it may include some Estufagem wines for balance.

Question 25

What is the typical quality and pricing of 20 Year Old and older Madeira? Why?

Answer 25

Outstanding quality and premium priced due to the concentration of flavors and acidity offered by extensive Canteiro maturation

Question 26

What is Corrente in Madeira?

Answer 26

A classification of standard blends released by Madeira producers 2-3 years after harvest.

Question 27

How are standard Madeira blends labelled?

Answer 27

Usually with the producer’s name and the product or style name, such as Blandy’s Duke of Clarence or H&H Full Rich Madeira

Question 28

What is Rainwater Madeira?

Answer 28

A lighter style of Madeira typically fortified to 18% ABV

Question 29

What is the backstory of Rainwater Madeira?

Answer 29

It is believed that barrels of Madeira were often left on docks in the rain, which diluted the wine. This style persists today in lower alcohol form

Question 30

What is Frasquiera Madeira?

Answer 30

A flagship Madeira product also sometimes referred to as Garrafeira. It is a vintage Madeira aged for a minimum of 20 years in wood from a single varietal

Question 31

What is the typical character of Frasquiera Maderia?

Answer 31

It depends on the varietal used, though these wines have exceptional complexity and concentration of tertiary aromas with high acidity to balance sweetness

Question 32

What is the typical pricing of Frasquiera Madeira?

Answer 32

Super premium

Question 33

What is Colheita Madeira?

Answer 33

A vintage Madeira with at least 5 years of aging in oak barrels

Question 34

Are Colheita Madeira single varietal or a blend of varieties?

Answer 34

They can be either

Question 35

True or False

Both the varietal and harvest date must be indicated on a Colheita Madeira label.

Answer 35

False. Varieties do not need to be listed on Colheita Madeira labels as those wine may be a blend of varieties.

Question 36

When was the Colheita Madeira category first approved? Is it popular among producers?

Answer 36

It was approved in 2000 and is popular among producers due to the lower aging requirement compared to Frasqueira Madeira. All producers make Colheita Madeira.