In the world of fortified wines, Vintage Madeira stands out as a true gem, offering a unique and exceptional drinking experience. At Fareham Wine Cellar, we are proud to offer a hand-picked selection of Vintage Madeira wines from esteemed Madeira houses, including Blandy’s, Leacocks, Cossart and Gordon which are all owned by The Madeira Wine Company.
For the full list of Vintage Madeiras available to buy at Fareham Wine Cellar, please check here.
For 200 years, Blandys Madeira has been synonymous with quality Madeira wine. The Blandy family has played a leading role in the development of Madeira wine throughout its long history and members of the family continue to live on Madeira, maintaining a tradition that goes back to 1811.
In 1989 in order to further expand the global market, the Blandy’s approached another Anglo-Portuguese family, the Symingtons Family (owners of Port Houses Dow, Warre, Graham and Cockburn amongst others) and offered them a partnership in the newly named Madeira Wine Company (MWC). This partnership continues today and in 2011 the Blandys and the Symingtons signed an agreement giving the Blandy family control of the (MWC). The Symingtons remain minority shareholders. Today, Michael and Chris Blandy, 6th and 7th generation members, continue to work in the company, maintaining a tradition that spans over 200 years.
Vintage (or Frasquiera) Madeira must be aged in cask for a minimum of 20 years, in practise they are aged for much longer, before being bottled under Madeira Wine Institute supervision. The wine must then be aged in the bottle for a further two years before being released for sale. It must be noted that the word vintage does not appear on bottles of vintage Madeira because, in Portugal, the word “Vintage” is a trademark belonging to the Port traders. Therefore, one normally finds the grape variety and the vintage on the bottle or label, usually with more information on the modern back label.
Madeira is a remarkably complex and fascinating wine, crafted in virtually every vintage. Thanks to the unique estufagem aging process, Madeira is one of the longest-lived wines, with the ability to improve for days after opening. Once opened, a bottle of Vintage Madeira can be enjoyed for over a month, making it the perfect choice for celebrations and special occasions.
Traditionally Madeira varies in style and sweetness depending on the grape variety that the Madeira is made from. Sercial produces the driest style, the rarer Terrantez and Verdelho produce a Medium Dry style, Bual (sometimes called Boal) produces a Medium Rich style and Malvasia (also known as Malmsey) produces the richest and sweetest styles. You will find Vintage Madeiras made with all these grape varieties and in all these different styles. There is also another type of older, aged Madeira, called Solera Madeira, which is made using a fractional ageing system similar to the Sherry Solera System. Sometimes it has a year on the bottle, but it is not technically a vintage. Read more about Solera Madeira here.
Whether you’re commemorating a milestone wedding anniversary or seeking a truly special gift, a bottle of Vintage Madeira from Fareham Wine Cellar is the perfect choice. Elevate your celebrations and create lasting memories with the exceptional complexity and longevity of these remarkable fortified wines.
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