Grapes of Madeira

The Main Seven

Negramoll
- aka Tinta Negra, Tinta Negra Mole, Molar, Negra Criolla.
Sercial
Verdelho
Malvasia Fina
- aka Boal or Bual
Malvasia di Lipari
- aka Malvasia Cândida
Terrantez
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
- aka Moscatel

Separate Origins

Negramoll – origins from Andalucia in Spain, later exported to Madeira, the Canary Islands and Peru.

Malvasia Fina – an ancient variety from the Douro area of the Portugal mainland.

Malvasia di Lipari – a mysterious grape found throughout the coastal Mediterranean, including Lipari, Calabria, Sardinia, Catalonia, Canary Islands, Croatia and Madeira. On the latter, just 4 hectares remain today, known as Malvasía Cândida. A color-mutation also exists on Madeira, called Malvasia Cândida Roxa with reddish skin.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains – origins are likely linked to Italy or Greece, and the grape is widespread globally. Amounts are still grown on Madeira, typically destined for the table, versus the bottle.

Sercial – the same as Esgana Cão from mainland Portugal (Bucelas, near Lisboa)

Unique to Madeira

Terrantez – not grown elsewhere from Madeira. Only 2 hectares remain today.

Verdelho – possible origins on the island of Madeira. Verdelho Roxo is a red-berried mutation. Verdelho is the most widely-planted of the four “noble” Madeira grapes, with 47 hectares planted. (Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malmsey are the noble four.) Pockets of Verdelho exist elsewhere, having been exported from the island to Savennières, Amador County, Mendoza, Australia (widespread, at 1,761 hectares in the country), and New Zealand.

Here’s an interesting Malvasia article: http://www.richardmayson.com/madeira-wine-notes/2015/04/15/majesty-malvasia

Also, some images of varietal Madeira bottlings: