Although Madeira is a white wine, it has an amber tint because it is heated in its cask before being bottled. The wine takes its name from the Portuguese island where it is produced, and the island in turn was named Madeira—the Portuguese word for timber—because it was covered with thick forests. Ultimately, the Portuguese Madeira descends from a word the ancient Romans used to denote timber and other building materials, the Latin materia; in English, materia evolved into material and matter, both of which emerged in the mid fourteenth century, about two hundred years before the name of the wine was adopted in the sixteenth century. In French, Madeira also gave rise to a term used by wine connoisseurs, maderise, applied to a white wine that has passed its prime and has started to take on the amber tint of Madeira. About fifty years ago, this bit of wine terminology was adopted by English as maderize.
Madeira, a fortified wine originating from the island of Madeira, derives its distinct character from grapes cultivated in the fertile volcanic soil. Prior to fortification, the wine undergoes a process of maturation in casks that are subjected to controlled heat. Madeira encompasses various types, each possessing unique flavors and characteristics. Malmsey, for instance, represents a luscious, dark, and exceptionally sweet variant, often boasting remarkable age, with some specimens surpassing a century. It is particularly delightful when served as a post-dinner indulgence. Boal, a more economical rendition of Malmsey, functions primarily as a dessert wine. Sercial, on the other hand, presents itself as a light and dry Madeira, while Verdelho falls into the category of moderately sweet. These latter options are better suited as apéritifs, stimulating the palate before a meal.