Rare Wine Co. Launches Historic Series Madeira Gift Set

In the 18^th century, Britain taxed Madeira, but the new American states did not. Consequently, the wine from the small island by that name, located about 500 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal, enjoyed a booming American market until the middle nineteenth century when two devastating diseases wiped out about 90 percent of the island's vineyards.

Tenacious, beautiful, and tasty beyond imagination, Madeira wines have endured, and they seem to be making a comeback in the United States, thanks in part to the Rare Wine Company of Sonoma, California, which has announced its latest Historic Series Madeira gift package.

Named for U.S. seaports where Madeira flourished in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the wines are drawn on the extraordinary stocks of old Madeira aged at Vinhos Barbeito, one of the oldest premium Madeira houses.

The Rare Wine Company offers only 750 of these commemorative wine sets, each including four specially commissioned half bottles (375ml) plus a booklet that traces the fabulous history of the little island and its American market.

Priced at $95, the pack includes Charleston's Sercial, Savannah's Verdelho, Boston's Bual and, New York's Malmsey, each of which has received critical raves.

The hallmark of every Madeira wine is its bracing acidity that offsets the general sweetness of the wine, which is purposely exposed to high heat for extended periods of time to give it a caramel-marzipan quality.

Charleston's Sercial is the driest wine in the series, and the perfect aperitif. Savannah's Verdelho, with its hint of orange rind and ginger shortbread, plus an almond-like finish, pairs beautifully with the soup course. Boston Bual reminds of cinnamon-clove spice, citrus, and smoke; it pairs with white meat dishes but it is also the penultimate after dinner sipper. New York's Malmsey, the sweetest in the series, is a dessert wine with flavors of coffee/toffee that you can pair with foie gras or pour over ice cream

The package is available at www.rarewineco.com/index.htm