How should I serve and store Madeira wine?
Store Madeira upright, away from sunlight, at a cool steady temperature. Serve dry styles chilled at about 11 to 13 C (52 to 55 F) and richer, sweeter styles slightly warmer at about 14 to 16 C. The producer says an opened bottle can keep for many months if stored correctly.
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In this article
How should you serve Madeira?
Serve it lightly chilled, not cold. Madeira producers advise about 12 C (54 F) for dry and medium-dry styles and about 16 C (61 F) for medium-rich and rich styles. Another guide gives 11 to 13 C for drier Madeira and 14 to 16 C for sweeter ones. If the aroma seems muted, let the glass warm in your hand.
| Style | Sweetness | Serve at about |
|---|---|---|
| Sercial | Dry | 11 to 13 C (52 to 55 F) |
| Verdelho | Medium dry | 11 to 13 C |
| Bual | Medium sweet | 14 to 16 C (57 to 61 F) |
| Malmsey | Sweet | 14 to 16 C |
What glass should you use?
A small white wine or tulip glass, or a typical port glass. Use a small pour so you can taste several styles.
Do you need to decant Madeira?
Most modern bottles do not. Very old vintage bottles may have sediment, so stand them upright first and decant slowly. The old guideline is to open an old vintage one day for every 10 years it has been in bottle.
How should you store an unopened bottle?
- Upright, not on its side.
- Away from direct sunlight.
- At a temperature just below room temperature, steady.
How long does Madeira last once opened?
The Madeira Wine Company says an opened bottle can last many months if stored correctly. The producer gives no fixed number. As general advice, re-cork tightly and keep it upright in a cool, dark place. A nearly empty bottle holds more air, so finish it sooner. Trust smell and taste.
Does it need to be refrigerated?
The producer’s storage advice does not call for refrigeration. If you do chill a bottle, let richer styles warm up toward their serving temperature before pouring.
People also ask
Should Madeira be refrigerated after opening?
The producer's advice does not call for it. Re-cork tightly and keep it upright in a cool, dark place.
How long does opened Madeira last?
The producer says many months if stored correctly. Less wine left in the bottle means more air, so finish it sooner.
What temperature should Madeira be served at?
About 12 C for dry and medium-dry, and about 16 C for sweeter styles.
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