A Portuguese word which means "stove". The estufa is a venue with high temperature in which Madeira wines are kept in order to give them the typical flavour of "cooked". The custom began to mimic the beneficial effects of the maturation induced by heating, which once took place in the stifling holds of ships headed for America. The use of this heating process ensures potentially that Madeira is almost indestructible and will remain in perfect condition for many decades, perhaps centuries.
