Vat 22 Madeira Wine

About Vat 22

Vat 22 Madeira is named after the specific ageing cask the wine is drawn from, a method reminiscent of the solera system known from sherry, where older and younger wines are blended continuously to preserve a consistent style over time. For newcomers it offers an accessible, well-balanced introduction to Madeira's sweet, oxidative character; for collectors it's interesting to follow how a single named cask can develop its own signature year after year.

History & Background

The solera and cask-blending method behind Vat 22 stems from a long Madeira tradition in which cellar casks were named and topped up continuously rather than bottled all at once. This made it possible to preserve a consistent style even when individual vintages' yields varied with weather and harvest. We have only limited specific documentation on the named 'Vat 22' cask and the house's own ownership history, so details are kept deliberately general.

Production & Style

The wine is made by adding grape spirit during fermentation, after which it is aged and deliberately heated, a process called estufagem.

Signature Style

Caramelized, Nutty, Complex
The wine offers a caramelized, nutty character with a complex, oxidative finish.

Facts

Did You Know?

Madeira is one of the few wines in the world that doesn't spoil from heat or light after opening, thanks to the deliberate heating during production.

Like Vat 22? You should also try:

Grahams Portvin, Blandys Madeiravin and Dalva Portvin.