What is Madeira Wine and How Can It Be Used in Cooking?

Madeira is a bold and flavorful fortified wine, known for its incredible longevity— but what else should you know about this iconic Portuguese drink?

What is Madeira Wine?

Madeira is a unique Portuguese fortified wine, crafted on the Madeira Islands off the coast of Africa.

Dry Madeira is often enjoyed as an aperitif before or between meals, while its sweeter varieties are typically savored as dessert wines.

How Is Madeira Wine Produced?

Fortified wine is created by fermenting wine and then adding distilled spirits. Other well-known fortified wines include port, sherry, and vermouth.

Madeira undergoes a special process of oxidation involving heat and aging. This powerful method results in a nearly indestructible wine that can last for centuries, even once opened.

What Does Madeira Wine Taste Like?

The flavor varies depending on the type you choose. Madeira comes in four main varieties, ranging from very dry to incredibly sweet:

• Sercial is very dry. It has a somewhat nutty flavor and is very acidic.
• Verdelho is a smoky wine that is slightly sweeter than Sercial, but is still quite dry and acidic.
• Bual is a dark, rich, sweet wine with a flavor that has notes of raisin.
• Malvasia is the sweetest of the four major varieties. It is dark, rich, and has notes of coffee and caramel.

Cooking with Madeira Wine

If you're familiar with cooking with wine, you know that Madeira is a perfect match for a wide range of ingredients. Much like sherry, it can enhance everything from rich sauces to soup and stews to desserts. When using Madeira in your cooking, it's essential to follow your recipe carefully — its bold flavor can dramatically affect the outcome if used in the wrong proportions.

Get the recipe: Chicken Madeira

Madeira Cake

Fans of The Great British Baking Show might be surprised to learn that Madeira cake, a beloved dessert in Britain and Ireland, isn't actually made with Madeira wine. The two share a name because they were commonly served together during Victorian times.

This rich and dense cake resembles a Victoria sponge (another treat for GBBS fans), but it contains more flour to extend its shelf life.

Madeira Substitutes

Marsala, another type of fortified wine, is an excellent substitute for Madeira when needed. Like Madeira, Marsala is available in both dry and sweet versions — but the ones typically used in cooking lean toward dryness. Unless your recipe specifically calls for a sweet Madeira, choose a dry variety as a substitute.

Other suitable substitutes include dark sherry, port, or red vermouth.

The History of Madeira Wine

Madeira is a rich wine with an even richer backstory. Legend has it that it was discovered by chance:

In the 1400s, winemakers began fortifying their wines to prevent spoilage during long sea voyages, as wine is highly susceptible to spoilage, especially under the hot sun.

With Madeira, they discovered that the combination of heat and fortification actually enhanced both its flavor and its shelf life. A true win-win.