History of Madeira Wine

Tracing the unique circumstances behind the development of present day Madeira wine leads us on an historical tale of mystery.

Wine making on the island of Madeira dates from the sixteenth century, but the product has not always possessed the unique blend of tastes that it does today.

A chance circumstance of history and a disobedient ship's crew lead, finally, to a discovery that bestows on Madeira wine its own particular niche in the marketplace.

Early traders would head for India, China and Japan. Their main customers being the European communities and military that was then present in Asia. Their ships carried their cargo of wine in large barrels of mahogany or oak.

Legend has it that, on one particular journey, some of the cargo was unsold and returned to Funchal.

Believing the goods to be spoilt, upon returning to his home port, the captain of the ship ordered the wine to be tipped overboard.

Thinking that to be rather wasteful, some of the sailors charged with the task, decided to undertaking a spot of sampling before disposing of the wine. To their surprise, and to the benefit of generation still unborn, the sailors found it to be of particularly good quality.

Indeed, the wine possessed a distinction of quality that was not present when it was first loaded on board at the beginning of the voyage. Obviously, something had occurred during the passage of the journey to greatly improved the palatability.

Hence, the unique qualities of Madeira wine were discovered.

For many years, it was believed that the swaying motion of the ships, as they carried their cargo across the seas, was responsible for creating this superior wine. Somehow, it was thought that the swilling about of the wine in the wooden casks produced its unique quality.

Thus, for decades, casks of wine were sent on a return sea voyage out from Funchal. The ships would set sail for the East or West Indies or venture across the equator and then back again to Funchal Port in order to aid the maturing process of their precious cargo.

Indeed, such was the customer demand for transported wines that such bottles were labelled as vinho da roda (indicating wines that have made a round trip).

However, this belief, that gently rocking the wine in its wooden cask improved its quality, was found to be false in the late eighteenth century.

But, why exactly did transporting the wine by sea considerably improve its quality?

What is the Secret of Madeira Wine?

If the gentle rocking of the ship, as it carried its cargo of Madeira wine, was not responsible for the improved quality then what was?

To reveal the secret of Madeira Wine's unique blend and taste, click on the tab below

Click Here to Reveal the Secret

It was not until the very late 17th century that the true secret behind the unique blend and taste of Madeira Wine was fully understood.

Up until the early 1790's, casks of the wine had routinely been taken by ship across the equator and then back again to Funchal. That the quality of the transported wine was greatly enhanced was not doubted, but the real reason for this improvement remained elusive.

Then, from the 1800 onward, it was discovered that the same improvement could be achieved without the necessity of a long sea voyage.

Thus, the wine Estufa store was introduced to the world!

The Wine Estufa is a building where the maturing wine is stored and heated.

The heating process replicates the effect of transporting casks of wine in the cramped and stuffy holds of ships as they sail across the equator.

The wine is slowly heated to temperatures of up to 55°C (130°F) for at least 90 days.

Originally, the Wine Estufa was a typically a two story building divided into different compartments. The different compartments aided heating of different batches of wine casks to different temperatures for varying periods of time. The entire structure would be heated by flues passing through it, fed by burning anthracite coal.

Today, stainless steel containers, amongst others, are used and the entire process is more scientific and strictly regulated by the Madeira Wine Institute.

The Blandys of Madeira: 1811-2011

Madeira wine is uniquely linked to one family name, and that name is Blandy.

The ambitions of the Blandy family and the development of Madeira Wine go hand-in-hand over the last 200 years. Even today, the Old Blandy's Wine Lodge is a family owned operation. This family's heritage is uncovered in a delightful book: The Blandys of Madeira: 1811-2011.

Written by Marcus Binney - best known as the co-presenter of the 39-part TV series Great Houses of Europe - this intriguing book tells the remarkable story of the Blandy's family run business from its inception on Madeira right up to the modern day.

The story of the Blandys of Madeira is, at times, a surprising one with many twists and memories from a by-gone era.

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Madeira Features

The Fort Pico in Funchal

This fort offers an excellent tourist diversion for a lazy hour or two.

With no admittance fee, tourist friendly opening hours and simply wonderful views over Madeira's capital city and bay, it should be high up on anyone's holiday agenda.

Although the fortification is more than three hundred and fifty years old, this is certainly not a dilapidated ruin. Indeed, today, the complex is a working building, housing the primary communications centre for the present day Funchal Navy.

So, if you want a picnic spot with wonderful views or simply wish to sample one aspect of the island's history, the Fort Pico makes a worthwhile destination.

Camacha

Camacha is a small village with a significant history, situated north east of Funchal.

The village is a popular stop on most east of island tours that are offered by the major excursion operators.

Primarily known to the tourist because it is the centre of Madeira's famous wicker arts and crafts industry, Camacha also plays a major role in the island's cultural inheritance.

The village is famous for its talented folklore dance group which has performed at various locations in Europe.

Camacha also celebrates the apple harvest each year with a lively festival that is undertaken by, and for the benefit of, the local inhabitants - although, tourists are made very welcome.