Madeiran Table Wines

These Madeiran table wines are from grapes produced and vinified on the island of Madeira but are not fortified in the more well known way.

There are two legal categories of table wines, classified by the EU produced on Madeira and their logos appear on the bottles of table wines:

Firstly:  DOP – Protected Domination of Origin and referred to as Madeiranses on bottle labels.

Secondly: IGP – Protected Geographical Indication referred to as Terras Madeiranses.

The denominations are awarded by the Instituito do vinho ,do bordado e do aretesanto da Madeira (IVBAM) This is the institute responsible for the quality  management of Madeiran wine and Embroidery and handicraft industries.

Presently IVBAM licences the following grapes to be used in the production of table wines in Madeira:

CASTAS BRANCAS (Whites): Verdelho, Arnsburger, Terrantez, Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia Cândida, Chardonnay,l Tália, Sercial, Chenin Blanc, Alvarinho Lilaz, Malvasia Bianca, Rio Grande, Malvasia Cândida Branca, Malvasia Fina, Malvasia Branca de S. Jorge e Carão de Moça

CASTAS TINTAS (Reds): Tinta Negra, Maria Feld, Malvasia Roxa, Merlot, Bastardo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Deliciosa, Complexa, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Aragonez e Syrah.

A new generation

However, we are now seeing many more options emerge, with investments in modern wineries in Madeira, we are seeing the emergence of some potentially excellent table wines, which certainly will accompany many Madeiran dishes.

Small volumes

There are now more than 12 producers producing table wines on Madeira. This includes two producers of traditional fortified Madeira wines, who operate their own facilities. The remaining 10 producers use shared facilities to produce the wines.

This winery in Sao Vicente opened 1999, but production volumes are still quite modest with volumes of IGP Terras Madeirenses falling, and in 2009 only 22,000 litres were produced in 2005 this stood at 65,000 litres. Likewise DOP Madeirense wine production declined from 163,000 litres in 2005 to 125,000 in 2009. To put this in context almost 3.8 million litres of Madeira wine was produced in 2009, principally it has to be said from Tinta Negra a very productive red grape that produces fortified Madeira wine in several styles.

Presently there are about 24 varieties of Red, White and Rose wines on the market.This number is growing and producers may well come and go. Production has varied year by year and is settling as supply meets demand.

These wines are in many ways artisan wines and produced in quite small volumes and do vary year by year, which adds to the fun and excitement in keeping up with the latest developments.

Retailers are stocking a reasonable range of table wines, and the availability of Madeiran table wines in restaurants is growing.

This is a list of  table wines produced in Madeira:  Atlantis, Cabeço da Queimada, Casa da Vinha, Colombo, Enxurros,  Palmeira e Voltas, Pedra de Fogo, Ponta do Tristoa, Quinta do Moledo, Quinta do Ribiera, Reis da Cunha, Seiçal, Terras do Avo, Torcaz, Xavelha

Atlantis…..the pioneer 

For many years TABLE WINES produced in Madeira have been relatively rare, Atlantis from Blandy’s has been on the market for 20 years, ploughing a lonely furrow, and is a crisp tart Rose wine.  Atlantis Rose wine made from Tinta Negra and a white table wine from the Verdelho grape.

Barbusano

Barbusano Madeiran Red, Rose and White DOP Madeirense Table Wines These DOP Table wines are produced by  Quinta do Barbusano, Lda in São Vicente. These wines are improving rapidly in quality and popularity.

Cabeço da Queimada