Enjoyed all over the world, this "nectar" is one of the most distinctive features of the island of Madeira. Chosen by Americans to celebrate the Independence of the USA in 1776, praised by Shakespeare, appreciated by kings, princes, generals and explorers, Madeira wine is a real treasure.

Although there are more than thirty different grape varieties, the most highly regarded are Sercial, Boal, Verdelho and Malvasia (Malmsey). Use your visit to get to know them better and learn to appreciate their different tastes. Amongst the dry wines, the real highlight is the Sercial wine, ideal as an aperitif, light and highly scented, and with a light, clear colour. Verdelho, a delicate and reasonably scented wine with a golden colour, is the best wine for drinking with meals. A semi-sweet, smooth, noble and velvety wine, with a dark golden colour, Boal is the one that is most recommended for drinking between the cooked dishes and dessert.

Between meals or as an accompaniment to dessert, there are few who can resist the Malvasia wine. It is a sweet, full-bodied wine with an intense perfume and deep red colour.

Discover how Madeira’s unique climate and soil contribute to the unrivalled distinctiveness of Madeira Wine. You will be pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the hand-grown vines, planted in small plots of land on terraces supported by stone walls along the slopes of the mountains.

If you can, try and visit Madeira in September when you can take part in the grape harvest celebrations and the Madeira Wine Festival, a homage that is paid each year to this age-old product, which has long been widely recognised internationally. Raise a glass to Madeira wine and delight in its taste...