It all started back in 2008, when I decided to launch Mad about Madeira. Initially, a site entirely dedicated to Madeira wine felt as a short-lived project having in mind the few producers left on the island and hence the limited amount of wines. But Madeira was so much [...]
Madeira – 2012 Vintage Report
Vintage variation and vintage expectation; does this matter when it comes to Madeira wine? The doubtful might question if it gives any meaning to talk about it, considering it’s only microscopic amounts of Vintage Madeira produced every year. Furthermore, most of the grape juice is used for [...]
Mad about Madeira is exactly what it indicates and not entirely a Madeira wine love affaire. Madeira is so much more; it’s for example:
Charleston has one. Savannah as well. Boston too. And New York. New Orleans got a rare Special reserve. Baltimore has Rainwater. Now there’s also one dedicated to a Virginia family; the Lees at Stratford Hall.
History was my favorite subject back in [...]
1958 Vintage Boal Bottled By Pereira d’Oliveira
The 1927 Bastardo, the 1969 Sercial and the 1958 Boal from d’Oliveiras all three have one thing in common; they originally come from the cellar of Adega do Torreão. When sold in the beginning of the millenum Pereira d’Oliveira bought the Torreão business and all its remaining [...]
There was this magazine on the flight when I flew home the other day. You know, the kind of paper that every airline today offers. Travel tips, what to see when here or there, what’s trendy or not and so on. In a wine article, Madeira was [...]
The global economic situation has haunted Portugal for quite some time now. Madeira is no exception. And when it rains it pours meaning Madeira has suffered more than one can imagine. But in my world you take the difficult decisions during times of financial setbacks, not only when all [...]
Vinhos Barbeito – 1885 Verdelho
1885. That’s 128 years ago. The Danish physicist Niels Bohr’s birth year. And the Verdelho of Vinhos Barbeito.
How’s it possible that a wine is at its best more more than a century after production? Can you explain it for me? Yes, I’m aware of the unique [...]
Over the years I’ve conducted a lot of tastings. Those I most clearly remember are not the ones involving the great names and vintages, but the occasions where the participants has left the tasting in a vision like mode. When Madeira’s been the topic – which is [...]
Blandy’s – Over 40 Years Old Bicentennial Anniversary Madeira
Turning 200 years old needs to be highlighted right? If you’re closing in at two centuries you can always ask someone with the experience for tips. Blandy’s for example. In 2011 the Madeira wine producer arranged some historical bicentennial tastings in San Fransisco, New York, London and finally [...]
20 Years Old Madeira – A Most welcome Trend
Twenty years old Madeira. For the initiated Madeira consumer this has primarily been equal to Vintage wines which by regulation needs to spend two decades in cask. Most of these however, are allowed to evolve much longer than that, knowing they need it. Vintage Madeira is such [...]
The Essential Madeira Library – The Rare Wine Co.
Few retailers has meant so much for Madeira wine as The Rare Wine Co. Hence, when the owner Mannie Berk offers a package of the three best books written about Madeira wine, I hope all interested in the island wines, newcomers or experienced Madeira winelovers, do benefit [...]
The Madeira Wine Assortment – Overwhelming Or Admirable?
3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years old. Occasionally you will also bump into the 30 and 40 years old blends – the latter being the oldest stated blend allowed in the Madeira wine regulation. But are they all needed; is there a demand for the different [...]
Complexa; Authorized but any good?
The legislation separates the grape varieties in two sections; the recommended and the authorized. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist in order to understand that the advocated grapes are the only ones wanted, but then again, why also have a list of authorized grapes?
This [...]
Wine is fermented grape juice. Nothing new or sensational there. A majority of the world’s wine consumers settle with knowing this and that’s just fine. Sometimes [...]
”Amber brown; bouquet like horses’ pee – fabulous!; full, rich, tangy.” April 1993 ****
In princip, I find tasting notes quite boring. A wine is so much more than a stereotype note telling you how it smells and tastes. But then there is the impressions of the [...]
Vinhos Barbeito; Robotic Lagar Trodden Wines
There’s nothing like a human treading team. Foot treading guarantees that the grapes are crushed gently and doesn’t release any bitter substances in the must. A human foot is not likely to crush the pips in other words. But what if a method to extract more color – [...]
Fajã dos Padres; 1986 Malvasia
Every wine region has it; a property, a single vineyard, a specific wine or vintage that enjoys a particular repute. Madeira is no exception. There’s this one, small but historically famous vineyard, called Fajã dos Padres which for centuries was impossible to visit without coming [...]
What does it mean, to connote? Basically, you have a word and in addition to its primary meaning you add or suggest an associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression. A connotation can be both positive and negative.
Heat damaged wines are often called maderized. [...]
Terrantez talk
There’s something about a newly released Terrantez as is the case with the 1971 Terrantez Vintage from d’Oliveiras. Anticipation and worry at the same time. Due to its extreme rarity one can’t help but to think that this is it; this is the last one. In [...]
Abstracts From a Wine Romantic’s Diary: Justino’s 1940 Sercial
Wine is fermented grape juice. True. A majority of the world’s wine consumers settle with knowing this and that’s just fine; we can’t expect all to share a love for wine considering that most of us don’t get others passions in life. Sometimes I just wish though, that [...]
D’Oliveiras 1850 Verdelho Vintage; A Divine Experience
Somebody smart once said that wine is bottled poetry. Let’s call this intelligent dude Robert Louis Stevenson. Robert was born in 1850, the same year as Wagner’s opera Lohengrin premieres. I think he was a little bit too generous there, the author behind Long John Silver. Not all [...]
Most Madeira wines sold are three years old. Nothing spectacular in that. It’s the same in basically all wine regions. But when people upgrade, to a ten years old for example, then they notice the huge difference in quality and tasting experience. For me, the decade old [...]
Henriques & Henriques – 1954 Terrantez
I’m delighted to see that the number of visitors keeps moving upwards. In the last 30 days the site has had visitors from 47 different countries (spambots and other evil not included)! A new record. The biggest of thanks to all of you, for showing interest in [...]
Henriques & Henriques; Quinta Grande
Thanks to the work of Humberto Jardim, the Quinta Grande will become more accessible for visitors in the future. And believe me, you really want to visit this amazing vineyard, to get a glimpse of the breathtaking view and to understand just how difficult it is to [...]
Madeira 2012; A Photographic Report – Part 4
Mad about Madeira continues promoting the island in a broader perspective. Here’s the last one of four photographic reports. If you like the content, I invite you to visit and like the site’s Facebook page as well. Again, it is great to have you here; thank [...]
Madeira 2012; A Photographic Report – Part 3
My main purpose with Mad about Madeira is to enthuse. To make you curious, wanting to taste something that might be new to you. Or even visit the island. And a wine site without photographies….how boring isn’t that? Please continue liking and sharing my site; for that [...]
Madeira is so much more than just a wine, sometimes you’re drinking history as well. The Historic Series Madeira from The Rare Wine Co. for instance, is not just a glass of Madeira, it is also an insight to America’s history and the important role Madeira had in [...]
Madeira table wines! Yes, they do exist and some of them are actually worth looking for – and drinking! Admit it, how can you say no to a Touriga Nacional, from Madeira. Please continue liking and sharing my site; for that I can’t thank YOU enough!
Have [...]
1979, 1980, 1981 Terrantez – that’s all folks!
New feature on the site! I’ve added the possibility for readers to post a quick comment via their FB account. Easier and a great way to promote Madeira. Please continue liking and sharing my site; for that I can’t thank YOU enough!
Next year, when I visit [...]
600 photographs later, tons of impressions, new knowledge and wines tasted, Mad about Madeira have all the prerequisites to continue yet a year. Regular visits is a must and I can’t thank the producers enough for their time and generosity. Please continue liking and sharing my site; [...]
Madeira 2012; A Photographic Report – Part 2
600 photographs later, lots of new impressions, knowledge and wines tasted, Mad about Madeira have all the prerequisites to continue yet a year. Regular visits is a must and I can’t thank the producers enough for their time and generosity. Please continue liking and sharing my site; [...]
Madeira 2012; A Photographic Report
I can’t think of a better way to report but directly from Madeira! Tasting the current vintage, last year’s or an 1885 Verdelho, doesn’t really matter; it is all great fun and inspires me a lot to keep on writing this site. Thanks for reading and sharing [...]
Thanks for following Mad about Madeira. The coming week I’m visiting the island; collecting new impressions but meeting the same great people! Less posting here, but more activity to be expected on the site’s FB page, on Twitter and Instagram. Links in the Follow Me tag to [...]
Boal Beauties: Vinhos Barbeito 1982 Boal Lote 12013
To understand a wine region, a style and a specific producer’s goal toward which he aspires, you need to visit. At least I do. By the way, make that try to understand. I’m therefore deeply grateful for the time and generosity shown and given to me by the [...]
MAD ABOUT MADEIRA
A site dedicated to Madeira wine only. Is that possible? Heck yeah! The world's most breathtaking wine not only deserves the attention; it needs it as well. A wine of this class shouldn't have to constantly be fighting prejudice. My name is Niklas Jorgensen. Great to have you here, reading Mad about Madeira. Comment, ask questions and share; here or on the Facebook page. For more information, check out the About Niklas section. If you want me to conduct tastings, then you know where to find me!SEARCH THE SITE
COMMENTING
- tarija om Madeira – 2012 Vintage Report
- Niklas Jorgensen om Madeira – 2012 Vintage Report
- Niklas Jörgensen om Mad About Madeira – A Finalist In The 2013 Wine Blog Awards
- Joe Roberts om Mad About Madeira – A Finalist In The 2013 Wine Blog Awards
- Niklas Jörgensen om Mad About Madeira – A Finalist In The 2013 Wine Blog Awards
WHOM TO FOLLOW
YET A TAG CLOUD
5 quick ones 10 YO 15 YO 20 YO 1940 1954 2011 2012 ABSL Artur Barros Sousa Barbeito Bastardo Blandy's Blends Boal Bual Camara de Lobos Canteiro Colheita Cossart Gordon Francisco Albuquerque Funchal H.M. Borges Henriques and Henriques Ivo Couto Justino's Luís d'Oliveira Madeira Malmsey Malvasia Mannie Berk MWC Pereira d'Oliveira Retailers Ricardo Diogo Freitas Sercial Single Cask Solera Terrantez The Rare Wine Co. Tinta Negra Tinta Negra Mole Uncategorized Verdelho Vintage
MAD ABOUT MADEIRA ON FACEBOOK
TAG CLOUD
5 quick ones 10 YO 15 YO 20 YO 1940 1954 2011 2012 ABSL Artur Barros Sousa Barbeito Bastardo Blandy's Blends Boal Bual Camara de Lobos Canteiro Colheita Cossart Gordon Francisco Albuquerque Funchal H.M. Borges Henriques and Henriques Ivo Couto Justino's Luís d'Oliveira Madeira Malmsey Malvasia Mannie Berk MWC Pereira d'Oliveira Retailers Ricardo Diogo Freitas Sercial Single Cask Solera Terrantez The Rare Wine Co. Tinta Negra Tinta Negra Mole Uncategorized Verdelho VintageMAM ON ALLTOP!
LOOKING FOR ANYTHING SPECIAL?
- 10 YO (11)
- 15 YO (6)
- 1795 (1)
- 1811 (2)
- 1826 (1)
- 1839 (1)
- 1840 (1)
- 1850 (3)
- 1862 (1)
- 1874 (1)
- 1875 (2)
- 1880 (3)
- 1885 (1)
- 1894 (1)
- 1898 (2)
- 1900 (3)
- 1903 (1)
- 1905 (1)
- 1907 (2)
- 1908 (1)
- 1910 (2)
- 1913 (1)
- 1915 (1)
- 1920 (2)
- 1922 (1)
- 1927 (3)
- 1928 (1)
- 1932 (1)
- 1933 (1)
- 1934 (2)
- 1937 (1)
- 1940 (6)
- 1944 (1)
- 1950 (3)
- 1954 (6)
- 1957 (1)
- 1958 (1)
- 1966 (1)
- 1968 (3)
- 1969 (1)
- 1971 (3)
- 1972 (1)
- 1974 (1)
- 1976 (2)
- 1977 (1)
- 1978 (2)
- 1979 (3)
- 1980 (1)
- 1981 (4)
- 1982 (1)
- 1983 (1)
- 1985 (2)
- 1986 (1)
- 1987 (1)
- 1988 (2)
- 1992 (1)
- 1993 (2)
- 1994 (2)
- 1995 (3)
- 1996 (3)
- 1997 (2)
- 1998 (1)
- 1999 (2)
- 20 YO (6)
- 2000 (4)
- 2002 (1)
- 2003 (1)
- 2004 (2)
- 2005 (1)
- 2007 (1)
- 2008 (1)
- 2009 (2)
- 2010 (2)
- 2011 (6)
- 2012 (6)
- 3 YO (2)
- 30 YO (1)
- 40 Years Old (1)
- 5 quick ones (8)
- 5 YO (5)
- ABSL (9)
- Abudarham (1)
- Adega Exportadora de Vinhos de Madeira (3)
- Adegas de Torreão (5)
- Alex Liddell (1)
- Anibal d'Oliveira (1)
- Araújo (1)
- Arnsburger (1)
- Articles on Madeira (4)
- Artur Barros Sousa (8)
- Artur Olim (2)
- Auction house (2)
- Authorized varieties (1)
- Barbeito (33)
- Bartholomew Broadbent (2)
- Bastardo (7)
- Belgium (1)
- Bica Aberta (2)
- Bicentennial tasting (3)
- Blandy's (20)
- Blends (8)
- Boal (15)
- Bolo de Mel (1)
- Borges (4)
- Borracheiro (3)
- Boston Bual (1)
- Bottling date (1)
- Broadbent Selections (2)
- Bual (15)
- Cable Car (1)
- Cabo Girão (1)
- Calheta (2)
- Camacha (1)
- Camara de Lobos (10)
- Campanário (1)
- Campo Experimental (3)
- Canical (1)
- Canteiro (6)
- Cascal (1)
- Casco 8 a+d (2)
- Cask 110 (1)
- Cask 113 b+e (1)
- Cask 119 (1)
- Cask 307 a+e (1)
- Cask 40a (2)
- Cask 44a (3)
- Cask samples (1)
- Casks (1)
- Chris Blandy (3)
- Colheita (21)
- Companhia Vinicola Da Madeira (1)
- Complexa (3)
- Cossart Gordon (7)
- Cuisine (1)
- David Hancock (2)
- Debra Meiburg MW (1)
- Discussion (1)
- Edmundo Olim (1)
- Elsa Maria da Silva Ferreira (1)
- Esgana Cão (1)
- Espada (1)
- Estreito de Camara de Lobos (5)
- F. de Koenig (1)
- Faial (1)
- Fajã dos Padres (5)
- Filipe Azevedo (2)
- Flanders and Swann (1)
- Flaws (1)
- Food pairing (2)
- For The Love Of Port (2)
- Founder's Reserve (1)
- Francisco Albuquerque (9)
- Frasqueira's (4)
- Funchal (15)
- Garajau (2)
- Garrafeira Nacional (1)
- H.M. Borges (15)
- Harvest (1)
- Henriques and Henriques (23)
- Henriques et Co (1)
- Historic Series (5)
- History (1)
- Honeycake (1)
- Humberto Jardim (5)
- Hybrids (1)
- Importers (1)
- Isabel Borges (4)
- IVBAM (3)
- Ivo Couto (6)
- J.de Franca Netto (1)
- João Henriques Goncalves (1)
- Juan Teixeira (5)
- Júlio A Cunha (1)
- Julio Fernandes (1)
- Justino's (9)
- Lapas (1)
- Leacock's (4)
- Literature (3)
- Local specialties (2)
- Lote 12013 (1)
- Luís d'Oliveira (6)
- Lupins (2)
- Machico (2)
- Madeira (90)
- Madeira production (3)
- Madeira Table Wine (1)
- MadeiraWineGuide (1)
- Malmsey (16)
- Malvasia (15)
- Malvazia (5)
- Malvazia Candida (1)
- Mannie Berk (11)
- Mário Jardim Fernandes (1)
- Medium Dry (1)
- Meio Doce (1)
- Meio Seco (1)
- Mel de cana (1)
- Mercado dos Lavradores (1)
- Miles (2)
- Monte (1)
- Monte Palace (1)
- Monte Seco (1)
- Moscatel (1)
- Muito Velho (1)
- Musings (1)
- MWA (2)
- MWC (16)
- New York Malmsey (1)
- Niklas Jörgensen (2)
- Noël Cossart (4)
- Nossa Senhora do Monte (1)
- Off-topic (5)
- Old bottles (2)
- Old Reserve (1)
- Organic Madeira (1)
- Other (3)
- P.e Vale (1)
- Pa Vale (1)
- Palheiro (1)
- Partidista (3)
- Pastéis de Nata (1)
- Pedra de Fogo (1)
- Pereira d'Oliveira (35)
- Perestrello (1)
- Peter Reutter (1)
- Pico Arieiro (2)
- Pneumatic press (1)
- Ponta do Sol (1)
- Porto Moniz (4)
- Porto Santo (1)
- Portugal (2)
- Primeira Paixão (1)
- Quinta Grande (5)
- Rainwater (3)
- Ramblings (3)
- Ratings (2)
- Recipes (2)
- Recommended Varieties (1)
- Reid's (2)
- Retailers (14)
- Ribeira Brava (1)
- Ribeira de Janela (2)
- Ribeiro Sêco (1)
- Ricardo Diogo Freitas (15)
- Richard Mayson (1)
- Rita Maria G G Marques (1)
- Robotic Lagar (3)
- Roy Hersh (1)
- Rua 31 de Janeiro (1)
- Santa Cruz (1)
- Santana (3)
- Sao Goncalo (1)
- São Jorge (2)
- São Martinho (4)
- São Vicente (4)
- Savannah (2)
- Seixal (4)
- Sercial (26)
- Silva Vinhos Lda (2)
- Single Cask (6)
- Single Harvest (4)
- Soil (1)
- Solera (11)
- Songs (1)
- Statistics (2)
- Stratford Hall (1)
- Sugar cane (1)
- Table wine (3)
- Talhão (1)
- Terrantez (25)
- Terroir (2)
- The Madeira Collection. Bovey Wines (1)
- The Rare Wine Co. (10)
- The wines of Madeira (1)
- Tinta Negra (10)
- Tinta Negra Mole (6)
- Touriga Nacional (1)
- Trevor Elliot (4)
- Triunfo (1)
- Tropical Garden (1)
- Twitter (1)
- Uncategorized (6)
- Unknown bottles (4)
- Vasco Lojas (1)
- Vasco Luis Pereira (1)
- Veiga França (4)
- Verdelho (38)
- vinartikel (1)
- vinhandlare (1)
- Vinho Regional Terras Madeirenses (1)
- Vinho Velho (1)
- Vinhos Justino Henriques (2)
- Vintage (34)
- Volcanic soil (1)
- VQPRD (1)
- Website link (2)
- William Neyle Habersham (2)
- Wine Blog Awards (1)
- Wine geek (1)
- Wine literature (4)
- Wine shops (2)
- Wineshop (3)
- Winston Churchill (1)
COUNTING iN THE US…



























Flickr
Twitter
Facebook
GooglePlus
RSS