Madeira
Madeira is a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Madeira is a fortified wine made from white grapes, such as Malvasia, Sercial, Verdelho, and Bual de Madeira. It's aged using a unique heating and cooling process that involves crossing the equator. The wine can be dry to sweet, and has a complex bouquet and baked flavor.
How it's made
The winemaking process for Madeira includes harvesting, crushing, and pressing the grapes, fermenting the grapes with natural grape spirit, fortifying the wine, heating the wine, and maturing the wine in oak casks.
How to drink it
Dry styles of Madeira can be served chilled with starter courses, while sweeter styles can be served as an after-dinner-sipper.
How to use it in cooking
Madeira can be used in many of the same ways as sherry, adding flavor and dimension to sauces, soups, stews, and desserts.
Similar wines
If you can't find Madeira, you can try a dry or sweet Marsala as a substitute.
