It’s still a bit of a novelty although two years has already passed since Tinta Negra was upgraded to a recommended grape – and allowed to be written on the front label. But perhaps it’s due to the fact that…
Last year the Swedish Wine Magazine I write for, Livets Goda, published an in-depth article about the latest news from the Madeira wine scene. Among many things mentioned, I highlighted the brilliant quartet of Vintage wines released by Blandy’s….
‘I often mix among ordinary people. I have taken the tube and I love to meet poor people. And I talk to them occasionally too, and sometimes give my autograph for free.’ No. It’s not me. The quote belongs…
Last year, d’Oliveiras released the following quintet; 1929 Tinta Negra, 1986 Boal, 1990 Sercial, 1994 Malvasia and 2003 Verdelho Colheita. As has become the case with the company’s new releases, the quality of the wines all impressed. But one…
My first thought when I decided to do an A to Z on Madeira, summing up 2016? I must be mad. Is there enough stuff to write about? Then I started going through my notes and photos. And ended…
It’s early November. The harvest ended over a month ago and the wines are now fermented and fortified. 2016 saw a smaller harvest than the previous year but with a generally high quality of the grapes. Above all, healthy…
“The easiest vintage I’ve worked with since I started 15 years ago. Smaller crop but most of all, healthy grapes.” The words are Juan Teixeira’s, winemaker and general manager at Justino’s. He pours a bunch of samples from the…
In times when most producers were giving up, Mário Barbeito de Vasconcelos thought differently and founded Vinhos Barbeito in 1946. He started buying old stocks of Madeira wine as he believed these could only continue going up in value,…
In the glass, H M Borges 5 Years Old Reserva Seco. A Tinta Negra where half of it aged in canteiro. It’s a great partner in the kitchen; something for the chef while preparing dinner, and occasionally, when the…
When Artur and Edmundo Olím finally sold Artur de Barros e Sousa, Lda (ABSL) a few years ago, it didn’t come as a huge surprise that the neighbors were the buying part. After all, d’Oliveiras is a popular destination…
An autumn rainstorm is passing by outside. Some thundering as well and for a short moment I can’t help but to think it’s kind of fitting the occasion. Around me are people in long velvety capes, jackets in a…
It feels strange to talk about remote places in Madeira, especially nowadays when the infrastructure is top-notch. But there was a time when the parish of Curral das Freiras was pretty isolated – or perhaps rather, protected. It is…
Is there a future for the table wines of Madeira? 10 years ago that question was fully legitimate. Today it’s a no brainer. Like asking if the pope is catholic. And I’m pretty sure we’ve just seen the start…
I know what you think. That’s a mighty big book. The old log books at Blandy’s, with details going 200 years back in time on who ordered what and when, are pretty solid pieces. Not your bedtime read perhaps,…
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