The Appellation:
DOP Madeira, Portugal

The Grape:
Tinta Negra

Manual Harvest. Total destemming, crushing, and pressing. Open-spout winemaking. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with temperature control. Fermentation is stopped at 7-9 days after the beginning of alcoholic fermentation by adding neutral vinous alcohol (96% ABV) to achieve the desired sugar content in traditional madeira-making practice.

Held in stainless steel tanks for 4 months, then aged in oak barrels for 3 years.

The Wine:
Golden in color with aromas of dried fruits and cooked apples.
Dried fruits and candied citrus on the palate with a hint of nuttiness and vibrant acidity.
Well-balanced with a moderately persistent finish, leaving a lingering hint of walnut and toasted almonds.

Rainwater Madeira is wine with a pale to golden colour, with a Baumé degree between 1.0 and 2.5. It has an interesting legend around it involving a shipment of Madeira wine barrels send to the US that were left uncovered in heavy rain. The importer nonetheless sold the wines to unsuspecting customers, but the Americans loved it! By diluting the heavy Madeira with rainwater, the drink became lighter and easier to drink, making it more popular. Nowadays, Rainwater are simply the lightest of the Madeira on offer.

Alcohol: 19%
Total Acidity: 5.12 g/L tartaric acid
pH: 3.40
Sugar: 68 g/L

Pairing Ideas:
Serve slightly chilled as an aperitif, or with tonic and a slice of lemon.
Pairs well with light soups, salads, ham, dry fruits, and nuts.

The Format:
Bottle, 750ml – cork closure

The Winery:
“Justino’s Madeira Wines, S.A.” was formed as a limited company in 1953, although it had been in existence since 1870 in Madeira as a private family company, when it was known as “Justino Henriques”. This makes it one of the oldest producers and exporters of Madeira Wine, internationally known for the quality of its wines.

For over a hundred years, wines from Justino’s Madeira have been increasingly popular throughout Europe. Principal markets include France, Germany, England, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Benelux countries, Spain and Scandinavia, as well as in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Japan.

Today, Justino’s Madeira holds one of the largest stocks of Madeira wine on the island, including high quality wines aged in oak casks, which enables the company to meet the requirement of the most demanding and selective consumers.

◉ Justino’s Madeira Website
◉ Other Wines from this producer at E-Corp