Vinho de roda

The merchants of Madeira in former times sometimes sent their wine on voyages across the Equator, receiving it back on its return improved by the high temperatures it endured in the ships’ holds. Wines that travelled to hot regions and came back to Madeira were called vinhos de roda (‘round-trip wines’). The estufas (heated stores for ageing Madeira wine) were created to give the wine a prolonged heat capable of producing effects similar to those produced by the heat of the ships’ holds. See Estufas.