When Jeffrey Pell chooses a wine to have with dinner or even to use when cooking his dinner, he often leans toward a good Madeira. This wine is a fortified variety, as brandy is added to the distilled and fermented mixture. Named after its island of origin, Madeira is located to the southwest of Portugal. Centuries ago, when the island natives started to trade their wine with other countries, they needed a way to keep the wine fresh over long ocean journeys. Adding the brandy, fortifying the wine, made that trade possible.
As news of Madeira and its unique flavor became well known around Europe, more of the wine was shipped via boats. Sailors and those purchasing the Madeira took note of the fact that the longer the wine was aboard the ship, the better it tasted. At one point, the ballast pipes of the ships were actually filled with Madeira. This allowed the ship to benefit from the weight spread and gave the wine a rich place to further develop.
Only four varieties of grapes are ever used to make Madeira. These varieties include the Malmsey, Bual, Verdelho, and Sercial. Jeffrey Pell likes to enjoy his Madeira with cheeses and fruits before a nice meal, or sometimes as an after dinner drink with his wife. They have also developed many great recipes using Madeira as a staple ingredient. Pell recommends drinking the Madeira slightly chilled, similar to how you would drink a Port, he says you can even use a Port glass.
As news of Madeira and its unique flavor became well known around Europe, more of the wine was shipped via boats. Sailors and those purchasing the Madeira took note of the fact that the longer the wine was aboard the ship, the better it tasted. At one point, the ballast pipes of the ships were actually filled with Madeira. This allowed the ship to benefit from the weight spread and gave the wine a rich place to further develop.
Only four varieties of grapes are ever used to make Madeira. These varieties include the Malmsey, Bual, Verdelho, and Sercial. Jeffrey Pell likes to enjoy his Madeira with cheeses and fruits before a nice meal, or sometimes as an after dinner drink with his wife. They have also developed many great recipes using Madeira as a staple ingredient. Pell recommends drinking the Madeira slightly chilled, similar to how you would drink a Port, he says you can even use a Port glass.