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Madeira’s North Coast Table Wine Producers & Wines: All You Need To Know If You Plan A Visit
In the 17th century, a fortunate accident led Madeiran winemakers to discover a method to preserve wine during long sea voyages, giving birth to the renowned fortified Madeira wine. In the mid-20th century, the winemaking landscape shifted. Fortified Madeira wine is no longer a popular choice for consumers. The Madeira winemaking industry has adapted accordingly,… [Read more]
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Madeira’s South Coast Table Wine Producers & Wines: All You Need To Know If You Plan A Visit
When you hear “Madeira,” fortified wines might be the first thought that comes to mind. But here’s a surprise: nowadays, most wineries in Madeira produce table wines instead! Even some of the well-established, fortified wine producers have hopped on this trend. So, who are these table winemakers, and, more importantly, how do their table wines… [Read more]
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New Entrants Of Madeira’s 200 Years Old Wine Scene: A Visit And Wine Tasting At Terras Do Avo
The Portuguese island of Madeira is renowned for its production of fortified Madeira wines. With the rise of table wines as a popular choice among consumers worldwide, the once-prevalent appeal on the global market of Madeira fortified wines has gradually diminished.In the early 1990s, Madeira Island saw a seismic shift in its winemaking landscape, leading… [Read more]
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Tasting Blandy’s 3 years old Full Sweet Madeira wine: “Duke of Clarence”
We have opined in the past that all 3 years old blended fortified wines produced on the island of Madeira are basically indistinguishable. So, if you are one of these winemakers vying for the attention of the outside world, how do you differentiate your product? By getting creative with naming your wines, of course! Blandy’s… [Read more]
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Tasting of the very rare and special 1976 Henriques & Henriques Terrantez Madeira wine
Have you ever heard of the Terrantez grape varietal? It is special and rare and almost extinct. “Terrantez grapes, not for eating, nor giving away. God made them for wine!” reads an inscription on the wall of Blendy’s wine museum in Madeira, Portugal. But what does the wine made of Terrantez taste like? We had… [Read more]
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Madeira Island Winery Spotlight: Madeira Vintners and their Fenix
Winemaking has traditionally been a male-dominated profession. Winery ownership by females, either on their own, or together with their family members, is not that uncommon. A woman in a position of a professional winemaker is far more scarce. If you encounter an all-female winemaking team, you may want to pinch yourself to check if you… [Read more]
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Henriques and Henriques 3 years old Madeira wines. Tasting notes and food pairing recommendations.
Are you new to Madeira fortified wine? Maybe you never tried Madeira wine and are wondering what it tastes like? Whatever your story is, let us tell you the most important thing. If someone says they have Madeira for dinner, don’t think their wine got spoiled. Not that anyone will object to an extra bottle… [Read more]
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J. Faria and Filhos tasting notes. Plus, the Art of choosing, tasting and food pairing Madeira Wine.
For those who have never tried it, the experience of tasting Madeira for the first time is comparable to taking a trip to the moon, where gravity rules no longer apply. Most of the aromas and flavor profiles that you are used to and look forward to in your Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay are nowhere… [Read more]
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Like Madeira Wine and Visiting the Madeira Island? All You Need to Know about the Madeira Winemakers and their wines
What do you do when you have no way around hot storage and transport for your wine? If you are a 17th-century wine producer from the Portuguese island of Madeira, you elevate it to the status of art and make it into a masterpiece. And you do it so well that it becomes an alcoholic… [Read more]