# Barbeito 10 Anos Verdelho Reserva Velha (NV)

- **Producer:** Vinhos Barbeito
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** fortified
- **Grapes:** Verdelho
- **Region:** Madeira, Portugal
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 19.2%
- **Average price:** €45
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 11–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** orange, lemon, blossom, resinous, smoke, honey, marmalade, walnut, dried fig

## About this wine

Founded in 1946 by Mário Barbeito de Vasconcelos, Vinhos Barbeito is a renowned boutique Madeira producer. Under third-generation winemaker Ricardo Diogo Vasconcelos de Freitas, the house modernized Madeira winemaking by eschewing added caramel and sugar syrups in favor of natural acidity and varietal purity. Grapes for this release come from steep volcanic terraced vineyards in São Vicente on the northern coast and Prazeres in the south.

## Interesting facts

- Barbeito modernised Madeira by eliminating all added caramel coloring and artificial sugar syrups from their wines.
- Aged naturally for over a decade in oak casks using the traditional heat-assisted Canteiro cellar method.
- Awarded the World Champion Fortified Madeira Trophy at the prestigious International Wine Challenge.

## Food pairing

The high natural acidity and medium-dry profile of Verdelho balance rich fats in cured meats and pâtés, while complementary citrus and nut notes harmonise with seafood, savory broths, and fruit or nut tarts.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested Verdelho grapes are continuous-pressed and fermented until reaching medium-dry sweetness, at which point fermentation is arrested with 96% neutral vinic alcohol. The wine undergoes traditional Canteiro aging for over ten years in oak casks positioned in naturally warmed top-floor cellars. Lots are carefully selected from cellars with stable year-round temperatures to ensure optimal balance before natural filtration and bottling.