Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands.Some wines produced in small quantities in California and Texas are also referred to as “Madeira”, or “Madera”, though it is not correct.

The wine is produced in a variety of styles ranging from dry wines which can be consumed on their own as an aperitif, to sweet wines more usually consumed with dessert. Cheaper versions are often flavoured with salt and pepper for use in cooking. The Portugese islands of Madeira have a long winemaking history dating back to the Age of Exploration when Madeira was a standard port of call for ships heading to the New World or East Indies.

To prevent the wine from spoiling, neutral grape spirits were added. On the long sea voyages, the wines would be exposed to excessive heat and movement which transformed the flavour of the wine as the wine producers of Madeira found out when an unsold shipment of wine returned to the islands after a round trip.

Today, Madeira is noted for its unique winemaking process which involves heating the wine up to temperatures as high as 60 degrees. Click here for more from Wikipedia.

About Barbeito

Vinhos Barbeito, founded in 1946, is today one of the most important Madeira wine producers, and the only one still under family ownership. To us, Madeira wine is not just a business, it is a family tradition and a way of life.

Click on “Read More” below to see details about each wine.