[Of doubtful origin: (see quot. 1833).] A dry white wine made in the Canary Islands. Also attrib.
1733. Lond. Gaz., No. 6173/3. 31 Pipes … of … White Vidonia Madera Wine.
1816. Accum, Chem. Tests (1818), 191. Various wines or spirituous liquors:… Vidonia.
1833. C. Redding, Hist. Mod. Wines (1851), 210. What is called Vidonia is properly the dry Canary wine, of a good body…. Perhaps it was so called because it is derived from the vidogna grape, or is a corruption of Verdona. Ibid., 211. At Canary both Malmsey and Vidonia are grown.
1876. Encycl. Brit., IV. 797/1. (Canary Islands), None, however, is considered as good as the wine of Madeira. The most esteemed kind is sent to England under the name of Vidonia.
