Styles of madeira: Historic styles

Madeira’s unparalleled ability to age means that styles of wine long abandoned by the island’s wine shippers may still be found, and enjoyed. Rainwater is a light, off-dry or medium-dry style of madeira bottled before it is five years old and named after wine which was supposedly diluted by rain during shipment to the United States. Rainwater madeira is still made in small quantities, although the law is vague on what exactly constitutes the style. Two other styles of madeira based on the noble terrantez and bastardo grapes are rarely made since both varieties are almost extinct on the island, although Terrantez is making a modest comeback. Intensely sweet wines made from three types of Moscatel (muscat) grape, usually produced for blending, are occasionally bottled on their own.