Madeira: Wine of our Forefathers

Filed in archive Ports and Sherries on July 4, 2008

What were george washington, Francis Soctt Key, and the signers of the "Declaration of Independence" drinking when they were finished with their work of creating a nation for the day? Did they sip on Chardonnay or mull over events with a glass of Merlot? No, the preferred quaff of America's Colonial times was Madeira, the copper-colored, fortified wine, crafted on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Today, Madeira is less popular than other fortified wines, such as Sherry or Port. However, the vanilla and toffee-flavored wine makes a great aperitif and goes well with desserts, especially chocolate ones.

^{(Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Ruslan Kokarev)}