Madeira wine is a family of wines from Portugal’s Madeira Islands. It can be sweet or dry, and is enriched by a unique winemaking process involving high temperatures and grape brandy. The resulting wine has a distinctive flavor and aroma, and can last up to a year after opening.
Madeira wine is actually a family of wines originating from the Madeira Islands in Portugal. The various wines that are created using methods that have been in use for centuries can be used in different ways. Some types of Madeira wine are ideal for cooking, while others are more suitable for use with desserts or as an aperitif.
Madeira wine can be formulated to be a sweet or dry wine. Either way, the wines are enriched by a process that helps the finished product enjoy a long life without minimizing the flavor or aroma of the wine. In any case, fortified wine undergoes a winemaking process that is somewhat unique to the fermentation process used elsewhere in the world. The end result is that Madeira wine tends to have a distinctive flavor and bouquet that makes it popular in many places around the world.
One of the distinguishing elements in the Madeira wine making process is the use of a high temperature over a long period of time. This is accomplished by the construction of stone buildings which are known as estufas. Estufas are normally stored in compartments that house the wine for an extended period where the wine is exposed to higher temperatures. The length of time the wine is subjected to this high temperature exposure helps determine the type and quality of the final product.
One benefit of this unique process is that the process tends to handle fermentation in a way that allows the wine to become somewhat pasteurized. The addition of grape brandy also helps to stabilize the fortified wine and promotes not only the uniformity of color but also the long shelf life of the wine once the bottle is opened. A properly fortified wine made in the Madeira Islands can easily remain fresh and usable for up to a year after first opening.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
