Madeira

Producers and Wine Reviews about the "Madeira"

DOC area for a famous dessert wine named after the Portuguese island of Madeira. The archipelago also includes the smaller island of Porto Santo and the uninhabited archipelago of Ilhas Desertas. Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean 500 km north of the Canary Islands, 951 km from mainland Portugal and 737 km from the coast of Africa (Morocco). It was discovered in 1420 by the navigator João Gonçalves Zarco (1380-1467), who found a densely forested island (Madeira means "island of the forest"). The Portuguese set fire to the island, and the fire raged for seven years. This destroyed almost all the vegetation, but the wood ash and the pre-existing volcanic soil created ideal conditions for growing grapes. By the end of the 16th century, commercially significant viticulture is documented. The port in Funchal quickly developed into a strategically important stopover for all ships on their way to Africa, Asia and South America. The ships also supplied themselves with wine here. However, these mostly spoiled during the long sea voyages. For this reason, the use of spirits distilled from sugar cane gradually became widespread, especially to make the wines more durable. However, this did not become the norm until the middle of the 18th century.

To read the full text, you must be a Premium Member of wein.plus. You are currently not logged in to wein.plus. Become a Premium Member or log in with your credentials .

Become a Premium Member of wein.plus

Voices of our members

There is a vast number of sources on the web where one can acquire knowledge about wine. But none has the scope, timeliness and accuracy of the information in the encyclopaedia at wein.plus. I use it regularly and rely on it.
Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen

Welcome back!

Madeira

To read the full text, you must be a Premium Member of wein.plus. You are currently not logged in to wein.plus. Become a Premium Member or log in with your credentials .

Voices of our members

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS:

Welcome back!

Please Note:

Madeira

To read the full text, you must be a Premium Member of wein.plus. You are currently not logged in to wein.plus. Become a Premium Member or log in with your credentials .

Voices of our members

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS: