Madeira

Madeira is a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of the same name, produced in styles ranging from dry to sweet. In sauce-making, a medium-dry Madeira such as Verdelho or Bual is added to a roasted meat stock base and reduced until it forms a glossy, full-bodied sauce. The wine's natural oxidised character adds a depth and slight nuttiness that ordinary red wine cannot replicate. Madeira is resistant to spoiling once opened due to its fortification, making it practical to keep open in a kitchen. Sercial is the driest; Malmsey the sweetest. For most savoury sauces, a medium style works best.