Blandy's Wine Lodge, Funchal (must see)

Blandy’s Wine Lodge occupies historic buildings connected with the former Convent of St. Francis and has been associated with the Blandy family since the early 19th century. John Blandy gradually acquired neighbouring properties over several decades, creating a wine complex linked with the family’s private residence. Today, the lodge contains hundreds of wooden casks and vats used for ageing Madeira wine.

A central part of the visit is the traditional canteiro ageing method. Wine is stored in oak casks on warm upper floors, where natural heat and controlled oxidation slowly shape its character. Over time, the wines develop flavours of dried fruit, nuts, spice and caramel. This process also makes Madeira unusually stable, allowing opened bottles, especially older vintages, to remain drinkable for long periods when properly stored.

The museum preserves objects connected with the island’s wine trade and the Blandy family. Highlights include a 17th-century wooden lagar, or grape-crushing trough, historic business records and correspondence linked with Winston Churchill, who visited Madeira in 1950. Displays also reflect the family’s wider commercial activities, including banking, and the vineyard crisis caused by Oidium in the 1850s, when Charles Blandy purchased stocks of older wine while vineyards recovered.

Tours introduce grape varieties such as Sercial, Verdelho, Boal and Malvasia, producing styles from dry to rich and sweet. Visitors may also learn about Terrantez, a rare local grape grown in very limited quantities. Some mature wines have spent many decades developing slowly in wooden casks. Tastings allow guests to compare grape varieties, sweetness levels and ageing periods while exploring the historic cellar rooms.