Qualities of madeira: Solera wines

Solera wines, were made using the solera system more commonly associated with sherry. This blended style began in the 19th century but, having been much abused, was temporarily prohibited for madeira by EU law—although some very good old bottlings of 19th-century soleras can still be found. Under the new definition a solera must be based on a wine from a single year, of which not more than 10% can be withdrawn in any one year. This must be replenished with a wine of similar quality, the maximum number of additions being ten, after which all the wine in the solera must be bottled at the same time.