Madeira wine glossary
Adega
A winemaking facility – winery and often includes the ageing and storage facility as well.
Aguardente
Brandy and now the 98% ABV grape spirit used to fortify Madeira wine.
American Vines (Americano)
Vines imported from North America. Wines produced from these vines are not authorised for commercialisation by IVBAM. Production is usually by farmers (direct producers) for their own consumption and is known as Americano.
Artur de Barros e Sousa
A once highly regarded Madeira wine producer and pardista, now part of D’Oliveiras.
Armazém
A building where wine is aged and stored.
Armazém de Calor
A wine storage facility that is artificially heated.
Authorised and Current Wines
Authorised wines are made from grape varieties legally permitted under Madeira DOP rules without naming the specific variety. Current wines are still ageing and have not yet been assigned a certified age or vintage category.
Barbeito
Established in 1946, Barbeito are recognised as innovators of Madeira wine and partnered with a Japanese wine distributor. They produce an innovative range alongside their respected core wines.
Bastardo
A noble red grape variety. Very little is produced today. Internationally known as Trousseau or Trousseau Noir.
Blandy’s
A Madeira Wine Company brand owned by the Blandy family, whose connection with Madeira dates to 1808. Renowned for Colheita wines and extensive stocks of old wines, with an impressive visitor centre.
Boal (Bual)
A noble white grape producing medium-sweet Madeira wine.
Borges HM
See HM Borges.
Canteiro
Wines aged in wooden casks, often for many years. Canteiro-aged wines are regarded as superior to Estufagem wines.
Casta Nobre (Noble Grape)
Grapes recommended by IVBAM, including Sercial, Verdelho, Boal and Malvasia. Bastardo and Terrantez are also noble grapes. Since 2015, Tinta Negra has been recognised as a noble grape when used in the Canteiro ageing process.
Colheita
A wine from a single harvest. The harvest year appears on the bottle. It must be aged for at least five years in cask using the Canteiro method before bottling.
Core Four
The four principal Canteiro wines produced in significant volumes: Malvasia, Boal, Verdelho and Sercial.
Cossart and Gordon
A Madeira Wine Company brand founded in 1747. It is known for maintaining a slightly drier style of Madeira wine.
Estufa and Estufagem
Estufa means “hot house”. Estufagem is the process of artificially heating Madeira wine, usually in large tanks, replacing traditional heated rooms.
Estágio
The resting period following the Estufagem heating process.
Estufado
Wine that has undergone the Estufagem heating process.
Fortified
Wine to which grape spirit has been added to stop fermentation, increasing alcohol content while influencing sweetness, stability and ageing potential.
Frasqueira
The official term for vintage Madeira wine. It must be aged by the Canteiro process for at least 20 years and is usually bottled in white stencilled glass. Certified by IVBAM.
Garrafeira
A historical term meaning the same as Frasqueira, often used for older stocks of vintage Madeira wine.
Henriques & Henriques
Founded in 1850 and based in Câmara de Lobos. Known for its modern sun-heated Armazém and highly regarded 15 and 20-year-old wines.
HM Borges
Established in 1877. A family-owned producer in Funchal carrying out vinification, maturation and bottling on one site. Well known for tours, tastings and excellent Malvasia wines.
IVBAM
The organisation responsible for regulating and promoting Madeira vineyards, wine, embroidery, handicrafts and spirits in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Established in 2006.
IVM
The Madeira Wine Institute, created in 1979 and merged into IVBAM in 2006. It replaced Portugal’s former National Wine Board (JNV).
J. Faria and Filhos
Founded in 1949. Produces a range of alcoholic beverages and is well known for its younger Madeira wines.
Justino
Established in 1870 and now part of a French multinational wine and spirits group. Produces a broad range of Madeira and table wines, with particularly well-regarded 10-year-old wines.
Latadas
Horizontal trellis systems widely used for training vines in Madeira vineyards.
Leacock’s
Dating back to 1741 and now part of the Madeira Wine Company. Famous for St John’s Single Vineyard wines and Rainwater Madeira.
Levada
Irrigation channels originally built from the 15th century onwards, supplying water to farmland and vineyards across Madeira.
Listrão
A historic grape variety authorised for both Madeira wine and table wine. It is the same grape as Palomino Fino used in Sherry production.
Madeira Vintners
Founded in 2012 as part of the Cooperativa Agrícola do Funchal (CAF). Known for modern fruit-forward wines and an all-female leadership team.
Madeira Wine Company
Originating from the Madeira Wine Association (1913). Since 2010 it has focused primarily on Blandy’s, Cossart and Gordon, Leacock’s and Miles brands.
Maderise (Maderize)
A term describing wines that have developed Madeira-like flavours of caramel, nuts and dried fruit through oxidation.
Malvasia (Malmsey)
A noble white grape producing rich, sweet Madeira wine.
Malvasia Candida
A rare grape variety of great historical significance, now produced only in very small quantities.
Miles Madeira
Established in 1814 and now part of the Madeira Wine Company. Well known for affordable young Madeira wines.
Moscatel
A rare authorised white grape variety. Very limited production in Madeira.
Noble Grapes
See Casta Nobre.
Pereira D’Oliveira
Founded in 1850. Famous for extensive stocks of mature wines and expertise in blending. Particularly respected for its 15-year-old wines.
Pardista
A wine producer who sells wine to other producers.
Rainwater
A lighter, paler and softer style of Madeira wine originating in the 19th century, particularly popular in the USA.
Sercial
A noble white grape producing dry Madeira wine. Nicknamed Esgana Cão, meaning “dog strangler”.
Solera
A Madeira production system banned by EU regulations in the 1980s. Existing Solera wines are rare historic stocks established before the ban.
Terrantez
A noble white grape producing medium-sweet Madeira wine in very small quantities.
Tinta Negra
A versatile red grape now recognised as a noble grape when used for Canteiro maturation. It accounts for around 90% of Madeira wine production and all Estufagem wines.
Velho / Velha
An old wine.
Velhíssima
A very old wine.
Verdelho
A noble white grape producing medium-dry Madeira wine. Increasingly used for Madeira table wines.
Vinho da Roda
The historic term for Madeira wine that travelled by sea through tropical climates, naturally developing the distinctive characteristics that inspired modern Estufagem and Canteiro ageing methods.