Madeira Verdelho - Henriques Henriques
 
Produced from tinta negra grapes, the most prolific and versatile variety on the island of Madeira. Fascinating to look at, with its elegant mahogany colour, it offers sensual, warm and enveloping aromas. Aging in 700 liter American oak barrels.
 
Type: Fortified wine
Denomination: Madeira D.O.
Origin: Portugal
Grape varieties: Verdelho
Alcohol content: 19%
Format: 75cl
Allergens: Sulphites 
Chalice: Sautern
Serving temperature: 12 - 14°C
 
Tasting Notes: Pungent but warm on the nose, hints of dried fruits that reveal its aging. Medium sweet, generous, complex. Sublime blend of flavors of candied orange peel and passion fruit with aromatic nutmeg and soft ginger finish.
 
Pairings: Perfect after a meal as an accompaniment to desserts, especially fruit-based.
 
The Cellar: Henriques & Henriques was founded in 1850 by João Gonçalves Henriques, member of a historic family from Camara de Lobos, owner of the most renowned vineyards on the island of Madeira; upon his death, his sons Francisco Eduardo and João Joaquim Henriques then inherited the company. Since its early days, Henriques & Henriques has occupied a prominent place in the world of viticulture, producing Madeira of the highest quality. Madeira, a fortified wine born by chance and with a truly daring origin, boasts a centuries-old history. Thanks also to the volcanic soils rich in magnesium, the wine produced on the Portuguese island has always been noteworthy, so much so that, in 1600, it began to be shipped to the colonies of the New World. Already on the occasion of these first expeditions it was noticed that the barrels that returned to the island after a journey of months, cradled by the sea in holds heated by the sun, contained a better wine than the one on departure: unusually, oxygen and heat made it highly prized . Therefore, its value was soon recognised, on 4 July 1776, with one of its glasses, the American declaration of independence was sanctioned. Henriques & Henriques is the only one on the Portuguese island to own its own vineyards; they cover approximately 15% of the requirement, then, for the remaining amount, the company turns to the farmers who supply it. The current production of Madeira stands at one million bottles per year; Since its foundation, the company has interpreted the fine fortified wine in the same way, making it sweet, powerful and highly concentrated and, for aging, uses barrels that previously contained Irish whiskey.