Madeira

Madeira, the fortified wine from the Portuguese island of the same name, has a history that few other wines can rival. Its bottles are known for aging gracefully over many decades, and rare vintages more than a hundred years old are prized by collectors around the world. Everyday wine lovers can also find plenty of affordable, varied bottles to enjoy.

For much of its past, madeira was treated as a wine for cooking. Today a growing number of drinkers appreciate it on its own, and it is increasingly served alongside meals. Interest in the wine has been reviving, and demand in overseas export markets keeps rising, even as more than a million tourists visit the island each year.