What are some popular Madeira wine brands?
Madeira is a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of Madeira. Well-known producers include Blandy's, Cossart Gordon, Leacock's, Henriques & Henriques, Pereira d'Oliveira, Barbeito and H.M. Borges. We do not rank them; the style (dry to sweet) and the age statement on the label matter more than the brand.
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In this article
Which producers make Madeira wine?
This is a neutral list of established houses, not a ranking:
- Blandy’s, Cossart Gordon and Miles: brands listed by the Madeira Wine Company on its own site. Leacock’s is a related historic Madeira label.
- Henriques & Henriques, Pereira d’Oliveira, Barbeito and H.M. Borges: other Madeira producers you will see in shops. Their ownership and stock details change, so we do not describe them further.
What are the types of Madeira wine?
Madeira is sold by style, named after the grape, from driest to sweetest:
| Style | Sweetness | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Sercial | Dry | Aperitif, chilled; savory sauces |
| Verdelho | Medium-dry | Aperitif, soups, nuts |
| Bual (Boal) | Medium-sweet | Cheese, desserts |
| Malmsey (Malvasia) | Sweet | Dessert, after dinner |
You may also see “Rainwater”, a medium-dry style, and “Terrantez”, a rare white grape that nearly disappeared before growers began restoring it. Tinta Negra is the only red grape used and, according to the Madeira Wine Company, makes about 80% of the island’s wine, mainly 3-year-old wines. It can be made in any of the four styles, so such bottles are often labeled by sweetness (dry, medium dry, medium sweet, sweet) instead of grape.
What do the age labels mean?
Labels such as “3 Years”, “5 Years”, “10 Years” and “15 Years” say how long the wine was aged. Younger bottles are cheaper and good for cooking. Colheita or vintage bottles come from a single year and cost more. Madeira is typically listed at roughly 17 to 22% alcohol by volume, but check the label of your bottle.
What is the best Madeira wine for cooking?
A common choice is a real Madeira in the 3 or 5 year range rather than a bottle labeled “cooking wine”, which often has salt added. Sercial or a dry Verdelho suits savory sauces; Bual or Malmsey suits desserts.
What is similar to Madeira?
Other fortified wines such as Marsala, tawny Port and cream sherry are the nearest alternatives, though each tastes different.
People also ask
What are the types of Madeira wine?
The four classic styles are Sercial (dry), Verdelho (medium-dry), Bual (medium-sweet) and Malmsey (sweet). Rainwater is a medium-dry style.
What is the best Madeira wine for cooking?
A real Madeira aged about 3 to 5 years is a common choice (a cook's preference, not an official rule). Pick dry (Sercial or Verdelho) for savory sauces and sweeter styles for desserts.
What wine is similar to Madeira?
Marsala, tawny Port and cream sherry are the closest fortified wines, but none tastes the same.
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