Madeira

Madeira comes from the Atlantic island of the same name, which is part of Portugal and is nearly 1000 kilometres south, situated off the African coast. This wine is fortified (as are most Madeiras) and has rich caramel flavours balanced by a touch of saltiness. It is ready to drink now and will not evolve further in the bottle. This Madeira is, like many fortified wines, extremely good value for money. 

Classic medium sweet Madeira made from the Boal grape and undergoing oxidative ageing and heating to boot. Deep caramel and dried fruit characters on the nose and palate with sumptuous balancing acidity. The perfect Xmas tipple to go with Christmas cake and even cheese.

Terrantes is one of the noble Madeira grapes offering a medium dry style. The base wine is fortified to 17-20% and stored in ?estufas? which are heated to 45 degrees celsius for no less than 3 months.

A brilliant, deep gold colour in the glass that then offers aroma of dried fruits, raisins, hazelnuts and walnuts. The palate is medium dry with flavours of almonds, dried fruits and spices with impeccable acid balance. 

This is an unctuous and rich Madeira of great intensity and finesse. Malvasia is one of the great grape varietals for making Madeira. This wine shows characteristics of caramel, toffee and dried fruits, complemented by a distinct nuttiness. 

This medium dry Madeira is an excellent aperitif. This wine is a light golden colour with a delicate, aromatic nose and a nutty complex palate.  

Sercial is one of the traditional Madeira grape offering the driest style from the island. The base wine is fortified to 17-20% and stored in ?estufas? which are heated to 45 degrees celsius for no less than 3 months.

This wine is then aged oxidatively in casks called Canteiro, usually on the top floor of the wine cellar, where the temperature is higher. Serical is the lightest, most acidic and delicate expression of Madeira that takes the longest to mature.

This is a semi-dry, complex dessert wine. The palate offers notes of orange peel, quince and raisin. 

Garibaldi Dolce is a sweet, fortified wine is made from grapes grown in the western part of Sicily. This wine spends two years minimum in wooden casks, which lends complexity and depth. The palate offers notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruit and figs.

Garibaldi Dolce is a sweet, fortified wine is made from grapes grown in the western part of Sicily. This wine spends two years minimum in wooden casks, which lends complexity and depth. The palate offers notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruit and figs.

Madeira is a wine and the name of the Portuguese island it comes from, 1000 kilometres south west of Portugal, off the coast of Africa. The soils here are volcanic and the climate has a high rainfall. Wines made here were historically shipped in barrels in the hills of ships where the heat baked (maderised) them, hence the name Madeira came into being. Today the wines are baked in the wineries to emulate the style. This one is medium sweet with rich flavours of caramel, dried apricots, walnuts and spice. Fresh acidity adds balance and this is an ideal Madeira for cooking with or sipping lightly chilled.

Madeira comes from the island of the same name which is part of Portugal, despite being situated 1000 kilometres south west, off the coast of Africa. Its grapes grown on volcanic soils in a warm, relatively high rainfall climate and the wines were traditionally transported in barrels on ships, where the wine warmed up and baked in the heat, so that it maderised, hence the name. Today, Madeira comes in a wider range of defined styles than ever before. This wine is a sweet style and would typically contain between 78 and 100 grams of residual sugar per litre of wine, putting it firmly in the sweet/ luscious style. Drink it chilled as a beautifully complex dessert wine or use in cooking - it works well in both sweet and savoury dishes.