Madeira is a wine and the name of the Portuguese island it comes from, 1000 kilometres south west of Portugal, off the coast of Africa. The soils here are volcanic and the climate has a high rainfall. Wines made here were historically shipped in barrels in the hills of ships where the heat baked (maderised) them, hence the name Madeira came into being. Today the wines are baked in the wineries to emulate the style. This one is medium sweet with rich flavours of caramel, dried apricots, walnuts and spice. Fresh acidity adds balance and this is an ideal Madeira for cooking with or sipping lightly chilled.

Garibaldi Dolce is a sweet, fortified wine is made from grapes grown in the western part of Sicily. This wine spends two years minimum in wooden casks, which lends complexity and depth. The palate offers notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruit and figs.

This is a semi-dry, complex dessert wine. The palate offers notes of orange peel, quince and raisin. 

Garibaldi Dolce is a sweet, fortified wine is made from grapes grown in the western part of Sicily. This wine spends two years minimum in wooden casks, which lends complexity and depth. The palate offers notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruit and figs.

Sercial is one of the traditional Madeira grape offering the driest style from the island. The base wine is fortified to 17-20% and stored in “estufas” which are heated to 45 degrees celsius for no less than 3 months.

This wine is then aged oxidatively in casks called Canteiro, usually on the top floor of the wine cellar, where the temperature is higher. Serical is the lightest, most acidic and delicate expression of Madeira that takes the longest to mature.

Madeira comes from the Atlantic island of the same name, which is part of Portugal and is nearly 1000 kilometres south, situated off the African coast. This wine is fortified (as are most Madeiras) and has rich caramel flavours balanced by a touch of saltiness. It is ready to drink now and will not evolve further in the bottle. This Madeira is, like many fortified wines, extremely good value for money.