Blandy's Wine Lodge is a working Madeira wine cellar and museum on Avenida Arriaga in central Funchal. Guided visits trace the Blandy family's wine business, founded in 1811, and explain how Madeira wine is made and aged. You can see rooms lined with casks, learn about the traditional canteiro method and finish with a tasting of different wines, including older vintages. The lodge also has a family museum and a cooperage, where barrels are made. Choose the Premium Tour for a fuller look at winemaking on the island.
A wine business founded in 1811
The Blandy family began its Madeira wine business in 1811. The lodge remains part of the island's wine trade, with production and ageing carried out on site. Its buildings occupy the grounds of the former Convent of São Francisco, and the cellars include spaces dating to the 17th and 18th centuries.
A visit gives context to Madeira wine as well as to one family business. Guided tours cover the company's history and the island's fortified wine, including how it differs from other fortified wines. Guides also explain the stages between grapes and bottle.
Cellars, barrels and the canteiro method
The cellar rooms hold wooden casks of wine as they age. Blandy's uses the traditional canteiro method, in which wines mature in the island's warm conditions. A tour can take you through the warehouse and other areas of the lodge, linking the rows of casks to the ageing process.
The cooperage is another part of the visit: this is where wooden barrels are made. The lodge also has a museum devoted to Madeira wine and the Blandy family. Its collection includes letters associated with Winston Churchill, coins from the family's bank and an old wooden wine press.
Guided visits and tastings
Tours combine the history of the producer with an explanation of how Madeira wine is made. The tasting at the end lets you compare wines of different ages and styles. If you want a closer look at winemaking on the island, the Premium Tour is the option to consider.
You can also visit for a tasting without taking a full tour. The lodge has a shop where Madeira wines are sold. If you find a bottle to take home, airport collection after security is a practical option for avoiding the need to carry it in your luggage.
FAQ
Can you taste Madeira wine at Blandy's Wine Lodge?
Yes. Guided tours include a tasting, and you can also visit a tasting room to sample Madeira wines.
What can you see on a tour of Blandy's Wine Lodge?
Tours cover the cellars, the Madeira wine-making and ageing process, and the company's history. The site also has a cooperage and a family museum.
When is the cheese board available?
The cheese board is available around 2 to 3 pm, and it can sell out.
Which tour should you choose for a fuller explanation of winemaking?
Consider the Premium Tour for a more comprehensive introduction to winemaking on Madeira.
