Madeira wine recovered a centuries-old tradition by crossing the Atlantic once again aboard a ship. Two pipes of Verdelho, from the 2021 harvest, returned to the Autonomous Region of Madeira after several months on the School Ship Sagres, in a symbolic recreation of the historic "Vinho da Roda" or round-trip wine. This initiative marked the return of a practice that for centuries was part of Madeira's wine identity.
The action was promoted by the Regional Government of Madeira through the Madeira Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute (IVBAM), the entity responsible for managing and promoting the region's traditional products. The return of the wine aboard the School Ship Sagres symbolizes the historical connection between Madeira and transatlantic maritime trade.
The initiative was part of the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States, reinforcing the historical importance of Madeira Wine in that country. For centuries, Madeiran wine was one of the most exported products to the American Colonies, having even been present at the table that celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
"Vinho da Roda" gets its name from being transported on vessels that completed the India Route or the Brazil Route, benefiting from the temperature and humidity conditions during the voyage across the Atlantic, which contributed to its maturation and quality.
