Buy Madeira wine: from crisp Sercial to century-old vintages
Madeira is the wine that cannot be destroyed. It is deliberately heated and exposed to oxygen – exactly what would ruin any other wine – and that is precisely why a bottle can last for decades, sometimes centuries. Once opened, it keeps for months.
At The Portugal Collection you will find Madeira from Barbeito, Blandy's, D'Oliveira and Borges: from an approachable 3-year-old to vintages from the 19th century.
Madeira at a glance
- Where: the island of Madeira, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco.
- What: a fortified wine, protected as DOP Madeira. The island's still table wines fall under DOP Madeirense.
- Grapes: Sercial, Verdelho, Boal and Malvasia, from dry to sweet. Plus Tinta Negra, the island's workhorse grape.
- Ageing: in warmth, through estufagem or canteiro.
- Unique: keeps for months after opening.
A wine that sailed around the world
Madeira owes its style to seafaring. Ships bound for India and America carried casks as ballast and provisions. In the tropical heat the wine warmed up in the hold for months – and came back better than it left. This vinho da roda, the wine that had made the round trip, became famous. In America the Declaration of Independence was toasted with Madeira, and Thomas Jefferson was a great admirer.
Estufagem or canteiro
Today producers recreate that voyage on the island itself.
- Estufagem: the wine is heated in tanks for at least 90 days, usually around 46 °C. Quick and affordable, typical of younger Madeiras.
- Canteiro: the wine matures for years in casks in warm lofts, without artificial heating. Slower and more complex, and compulsory for Colheita and Frasqueira.
The grapes: from dry to sweet
On the label, the grape tells you straight away how sweet the wine is.
| Grape | Style | Residual sugar | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sercial | dry | 9–27 g/l | taut, saline, citrus, almond |
| Verdelho | medium dry | 27–45 g/l | nuts, dried fruit, fresh acidity |
| Boal (Bual) | medium sweet | 45–63 g/l | caramel, raisin, coffee |
| Malvasia (Malmsey) | sweet | 63–117 g/l | fig, toffee, chocolate, orange peel |
Then there is Tinta Negra, accounting for some 85% of all Madeira. Since 2015 it may appear on the label, and it makes surprisingly fine wines. Rarer is Terrantez, between Verdelho and Boal. Even in the sweetest Madeira, high acidity keeps the balance: it is never cloying.
How old is my Madeira?
| On the label | What it means |
|---|---|
| 3 years / Seleccionado | young, fresh, ideal to start with |
| 5 years / Reserva | first ageing, already more complex |
| 10 years / Reserva Especial | the sweet spot between price and depth |
| 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years | ever more concentrated and complex |
| Colheita | a single harvest year, aged at least 5 years |
| Frasqueira (Garrafeira) | a single harvest year, at least 20 years in cask – the very top |
An age such as "10 years" is not an average but a style approved by a tasting panel. Colheita and Frasqueira show the harvest year and bottling date on the label.
Our Madeira producers
Barbeito – A family house making Madeira pure and unadorned. From the 3-year-old Dry, Medium Sweet and Sweet to Single Harvest vintages, 50-year-old Verdelho and rare old bottles. Together with Niepoort they made Os Mestres. More about Barbeito
Blandy's – The best-known Madeira house, part of the Madeira Wine Company along with Cossart Gordon and Leacock's. A wide range from 5 and 10 years per grape to Colheitas and the celebratory Winemaker Selection 600 Anos. More about Blandy's
D'Oliveira – A treasure trove of old vintages. Besides younger 3- and 10-year-olds we stock a long series of Colheitas and Frasqueiras, with bottles going back to the 19th century.
Borges – Classic Madeira from 5 to 20 years, with excellent value for money.
The Madeira Collection – Our own range, NR 1 to NR 6, blended with Barbeito. More about The Madeira Collection
Maderista – From the approachable Reserva to Colheitas in jeroboam (3 litres): an impressive gift or the centrepiece of a party.
Our tips to get started
- Barbeito Verdelho 5 years – medium dry and fresh, the ideal introduction
- Blandy's Malvazia 10 years – sweet and deep, with dessert or as a digestif
- Madeira Collection NR 1 – our own blend with Barbeito
- D'Oliveira Sercial 2013 – a dry single-harvest Colheita
- Maderista X – for those looking for something special
What does a good Madeira cost?
| Budget | What you get |
|---|---|
| from about €12 | 3 to 5 years: ideal to discover or to cook with |
| €20 – €40 | 10 years per grape, young Colheitas |
| €40 – €100 | 15 and 20 years, older Colheitas |
| from €100 | Frasqueiras and old vintages, up to bottles more than a century old |
Serving and storing
- Temperature: dry and medium-dry Madeira (Sercial, Verdelho) around 12 °C, medium-sweet and sweet (Boal, Malvasia) around 16 °C.
- Glass: a small wine glass or tulip glass, not too full.
- After opening: recork, store upright and cool. Madeira then keeps for months – no need to finish the bottle in one go.
What to eat with Madeira?
- Sercial: as an aperitif, with aged Comté, sushi or salted almonds.
- Verdelho: with poultry, mushrooms or hard cheese.
- Boal: with foie gras, pâté or dark chocolate.
- Malvasia: with honey cake, nut tart, butter biscuits or simply as a digestif.
Delivery and collection
We deliver throughout Belgium for €15.73, free from €175. Prefer to collect? You can at our depot and shop in Roeselare (Kaaistraat 62A), open during office hours. More about delivery
Frequently asked questions about Madeira
Where can you buy Madeira in Belgium?
At The Portugal Collection you will find Madeira from Barbeito, Blandy's, D'Oliveira and Borges, from young 3-year-olds to old vintages. We deliver throughout Belgium.
What is the difference between Madeira and port?
Both are fortified wines from Portugal, but port comes from the Douro and matures in cool conditions. Madeira comes from the island of the same name and is deliberately aged in warmth. That gives it an oxidative style and a much longer life after opening.
How long does an open bottle of Madeira keep?
Months. Store it upright, corked, in a cool place.
Which Madeira is dry and which is sweet?
Sercial is dry, Verdelho medium dry, Boal medium sweet and Malvasia (Malmsey) sweet. For blends the style is on the label: Dry, Medium Dry, Medium Sweet or Sweet.
Can you cook with Madeira?
Absolutely. A young 3- or 5-year-old is ideal for sauces, such as the classic Madeira sauce with tongue or veal. Keep the older bottles for the glass.