Madeira is a unique fortified wine produced in the Madeira Islands. It undergoes a long ageing process and comes in various styles.

Madeira is a fortified wine made in the Madeira Islands. It is named after the Portuguese island of Madeira, although the wine’s origins may actually lie elsewhere. Madeira is produced by fermenting the juice of grapes left to sit in large barrels under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. This process allows native yeasts to ferment the sugar into alcohol, which is then fortified with brandy. The ageing process continues over many years, as long as 30 years or more in some cases. The resulting wine has a unique character that reflects its origins and history; it has evolved into a variety of styles that are sometimes described as sweet or dry, but these terms are misleading since Madeira can be either sweet or dry depending on how it is made and stored. There are five basic types of Madeira: Sercial (youngest), Bual (medium age), Verdelho (mature), Malmsey (oldest) and Moscatel de Setubal (sweet).