What is madiera wine?

Madeira is actually a type of fortified wine made on the island of Madeira off the north-western coast of Spain.

It is made in the same fashion as sherry however is gains its distinctive difference from other fortified wine because of a process called maderization. Basically this means the wine is essentially cooked or warmed up for a period of time, often in the attic of the winery, and historically on the boat ride from the island of Maderia to the mainland.

This cooking process gives the wine a nutty, jammy, almost burn character.

And like champagne Madeira can only be called Madeira if made on the island of Madeira.