Collecting Q & A: Old Madeira

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Peter D. Meltzer
Posted: October 8, 2008

Q:I have a bottle of wine which I bought from a yard sale that looks very old, and I would like to know if it has any value. I would also like to know if it is OK to drink it. The description on the bottle says: Madeira, Selected Rich, No. 126, Bottled & Shipped by J.J. Ferraz & Co, Ltd., Funchal. —Mona

A: There is no record of J.J. Ferraz & Co. in our auction index, nor did a site search of WineSpectator.com produce any results; the same for reputable Internet retailers. Consequently, I don't think this bottle has any value. However, as madeira has a long shelf life, I doubt there's any harm in opening it and taking a sip as it has already madeirized (oxidized) and is essentially indestructible. Madeira is typically quite sweet.

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