Madeira wine that traveled to Brazil unsealed in Funchal to collect samples | Wines

The Institute of Wine, Embroidery and Crafts of Wood (IVBAM) carried out, this Monday, the unsealing of a barrel with Madeira wine transported by the training ship Sagres, as part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Brazil’s independence. The objective was to recreate the epic of the so-called Vinho da Roda, or Torna Viagem.

In a statement sent to the newsrooms, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Environment informed that IVBAM carried out “the unsealing ceremony of Vinho da Roda” from a 100-liter barrel of Madeira wine embarked on the ship of the Portuguese Republic (NRP) Sagres and of another kite that remained in Funchal.

The barrel of Madeira wine that went to Brazil had been shipped on July 29, 2022, Sagres having sailed from Lisbon five days earlier. The destination was Brazil, with a view to participating in the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the South American country’s independence.

The Portuguese Navy ship, which remained in the port of Funchal until August 1st, continued its journey for three months, stopping in several ports, namely Salvador da Baía (Brazil) and Mindelo (Cape Verde).

The aim of transporting the barrel of Madeira wine was to recreate the epic of the so-called Vinho da Roda, or Torna Viagem, a practice dating back to the 17th century, when the product was transported to the Indies in the holds of ships, and after 328 days at sea, the barrel with 100 liters of Madeira wine was returned to IVBAM.

“This action highlighted a symbolic act in the history of Madeira wine, highlighting one of the peculiarities of a wine that has almost 600 years of stories that make it unique and famous throughout the world”, is highlighted in the note.

According to the Regional Secretariat, of the Madeira wine that went to the NRP Sagres in 2022 (TN 2004) and returned in 2024, three samples were unsealed and collected from barrel number one, which returned from Brazil and Cape Verde, and from barrel number two, who stayed at IVBAM “as a witness”.

“These will be the only samples to be delivered to DLP [Divisão de Laboratórios e Câmara de Provadores] for comparison of results”, is also mentioned in the note.

The unsealing ceremony was attended by the Regional Secretary of Agriculture and Environment, Rafaela Fernandes, and the commander of the Maritime Zone of Madeira, sea captain Rui Manuel Rodrigues Teixeira.

Vinho da Roda emerged from the transport of barrels of Madeira wine in the holds of ships and that, during these navigations, the wine sometimes returns to Portugal, presenting an “increased quality” and an “objective benefit of its characteristics”.

It was then that barrels of Madeira wine began to be sent regularly to the Indies, with the sole aim of promoting its enrichment and appreciation, a 17th century practice that the Navy and IVBAM recreated with the voyage of the 100 liters to Brazil and Cape Verde between 2022 and 2023.

The NRP Sagres is a large sailing ship measuring 90 meters in length, with four masts and a barge frame, built at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Germany, having been launched on October 30, 1937.