Portugal Immigration tasting Portuguese fine wine: "Is it similar in taste to Port?"—this is a question often asked by those new to Madeira wine. In fact, as both are fortified wines, Madeira is even cooler than Port!
Madeira is one of the most complex wines in the world, with many different types and styles. The history of Madeira is quite illustrious, and it has had many famous fans, such as American Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Madeira wine is produced on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Unlike Port, which is mostly sweet, Madeira comes in both dry and sweet varieties and usually features a pleasant, crisp acidity, which is the most distinctive characteristic of Madeira wine.
There are three basic types of Madeira: the first is cooking Madeira, which is seasoned before being sold. This type of Madeira accounts for one-quarter of all Madeira sales.
Better in quality than cooking Madeira is blended Madeira. This type of Madeira is usually aged in oak barrels for 3-15 years, and the grape variety used for production may be indicated on the label. Madeira made from Sercial and Verdelho is light-bodied and often served as an aperitif; Madeira made from Bual and Malmsey is a classic sweet wine. Blended Madeira is affordable, usually priced between $20 and $50. Those who want to try Madeira might want to start with this type, but it is best to choose those aged for 10 years or more, as Madeira aged for less than 10 years can taste bland and lack the classic acidity of Madeira.
The top tier is Vintage Madeira, which must be aged in oak barrels for at least 20 years, and some for as long as several centuries. These top-tier Madeira wines are becoming increasingly difficult to find today. In the past few years, the auction prices for Vintage Madeira have been rising steadily. Last December, a bottle of 1715 Madeira at Christie's auction house had an estimated price of $4,500 to $5,500, but it eventually sold for as much as $26,950.
The reason why Madeira is so favored by collectors is that it never ages. Unlike top wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy, which will eventually reach a point where they are no longer suitable for drinking, Madeira can be stored for centuries without any issues. For the average wine enthusiast, as long as you like wine, you will definitely like Madeira. Although it may take some time to taste all the different styles of Madeira, you don't have to worry about time at all, because Madeira will always be there.
