What food pairs well with Madeira wine?
Match Madeira by style: dry Sercial with salty or briny foods like olives, nuts, seafood and soup; medium-dry Verdelho with smoked foods, mushrooms and roast pork; medium-sweet Bual with aged hard cheese and pate; sweet Malmsey with chocolate, caramel and nut desserts, blue cheese or fruitcake.
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In this article
What food goes with Madeira?
Madeira is a fortified wine from Portugal’s Madeira Islands that ranges from dry to sweet. Its range from dry to sweet lets it suit rich, salty and sweet dishes, so the best pairing depends on which style is in the bottle. Check the label for Sercial, Verdelho, Bual (Boal) or Malmsey (Malvasia).
| Style | Taste | Pairs with |
|---|---|---|
| Sercial | Dry | Olives, salted nuts, seafood, soups and consomme, roast chicken |
| Verdelho | Medium dry | Smoked foods, mushrooms, roast pork, rich fish, spiced savory dishes |
| Bual | Medium sweet | Aged hard cheese, pate and terrines, roast meats, nutty sauces |
| Malmsey | Sweet | Caramel, nut or toffee desserts, blue cheese, chocolate, coffee desserts, fruitcake |
Simple rule of thumb
Salty food suits drier styles, sweet food suits sweeter styles, and rich or umami dishes suit medium-dry to medium-sweet. Make sure the wine is at least as sweet as the dessert, or it will taste thin.
As an aperitif
Chilled Sercial or Verdelho before dinner works with salted almonds, olives and hard cheese.
With cheese
- Aged hard cheeses with Bual.
- Blue cheese with Malmsey.
- Salty cheeses with dry Sercial.
With dessert
Malmsey suits chocolate, coffee desserts, toffee and fruitcake. It can also be sipped alone after dinner.
Serving tips
Serve drier styles cooler (about 11 to 13 C) and richer ones slightly warmer (about 14 to 16 C). Use a small white wine or tulip glass, and taste the drier styles first.
Cooking with Madeira
Madeira is a classic ingredient in sauces for meat and mushrooms. Cooking does not remove all the alcohol, so keep that in mind for guests who avoid it.
People also ask
What cheese goes with Madeira?
Aged hard cheeses with Bual, blue cheese with Malmsey, and salty cheeses with dry Sercial.
Can I serve Madeira with dessert?
Yes, sweet Malmsey pairs with chocolate, caramel, nut desserts and fruitcake.
What is a good Madeira to drink before dinner?
Dry Sercial or medium-dry Verdelho, lightly chilled, with olives or salted nuts.
Sources
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