Perfection!
Do not worry – I’m still Mad about Madeira although there has been too much of the silence here and less of the Madeira. Working full time in the business now for almost three years, as an editor at the…
1st of July 2018 is #madeirawineday & our 4th edition
“Dia da Madeira” (Madeira day) is celebrated on the 1st of July, the date when Portugal granted Madeira its autonomy back in 1976. It is hence a perfect occasion to show you support the craftsmanship carried out by those involved…
Anibal d’Oliveira – One of the great men of Madeira
Anibal d’Oliveira, one of the great men of Madeira wine during several decades, passed away this weekend. A real gentleman and such a warm soul. He always asked about my kids when I visited, having met them several times;…
July 1 Is #madeirawineday – 2017
“Dia da Madeira” (Madeira day) is celebrated on the 1st of July, the date when Portugal granted Madeira its autonomy back in 1976. It is hence a perfect occasion to show you support the craftsmanship carried out by those…
Eastwell Madeira
In the 19th century it was, especially in the United States, common to see Madeira wine named after the ship that transported the wine to America. Back then, Madeira wines traded in casks and hence were stenciled after ship…
HM Borges Releases A Tinta Negra Colheita
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…
Blandy’s 1979 Verdelho
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….
Gone Fishin’ – Veramar Reserva
‘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…
A Benchmark Boal
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…
2016 – A Madeira Odyssey From A To Z
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…
Tinta Negra 2016
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…
New Colheita from Justino’s – The 1997 Verdelho
“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…
Vinhos Barbeito – Turning 70 & 25 Years
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,…
Matching Madeira Wine & Food – HM Borges 5 Years Old Reserva Seco
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…