The BEST Madeira Wineries (Complete Guide)
The island of Madeira is a paradise for wine lovers. Although in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, there are many wineries on Madeira meant to be explored!
Famed for its namesake Madeira wine, a fortified drink that has been around for centuries, this Portuguese gem offers an intoxicating blend of tradition, innovation, and natural beauty.
As we venture into 2024’s wine season, Madeira’s wineries are proof of the island’s rich vinicultural heritage.
So, whether you are a seasoned wine connoisseur or a curious traveler investigating the island’s flavors — Madeira’s wineries always offer an array of experiences.
Here, we present the top 6 wineries to visit in Madeira in 2024. Explore historic bodegas, engage in tours, and savor the rich, nuanced profiles of some of the world’s most famous fortified wines!
The Best Madeira Wineries
Visiting Madeira Island allows you to take a journey deep into the world of fortified wines.
With so many vineyards and wineries in Madeira to visit, it takes time to pick the best ones. To make this decision easier, we’ve separated some of the best and most famous Madeira wineries for you to visit this year!
1. Barbeito Madeira
Barbeito Madeira, established in 1946 by Mario Barbeito de Vasconcelos, has carved a distinctive niche in Madeira wines with its quality and innovation.
Over the years, under the watchful guidance of successive generations, Barbeito has balanced traditional methods with modern techniques, creating exceptional wines that honor the rich heritage of Madeira winemaking.
Barbeito is recognized for its wide range of Madeira wines, which capture the essence of the island’s diverse grape varieties. They specialize in single-varietal and blended wines, ranging from drier to sweeter.
Their wines are celebrated for their complexity, vibrancy, and balance. Noteworthy among their offerings are the rare, aged single-cask wines, which are highly sought after by connoisseurs.
Barbeito Madeira is also a pioneer in using the canteiro method, where wines are aged in wooden casks under natural temperature conditions, allowing for a gentle and gradual maturation. This method contributes significantly to the depth and character of their wines.
Visiting Barbeito Madeira
A visit to Barbeito Madeira includes a tour, which allows you to walk through the facilities, gaining insights into the winemaking process, from fermentation to aging.
During the wine tasting, you can sample many of Barbeito’s Madeira wines. The wine tasting often includes a mix of current releases and vintage selections, providing a comprehensive taste of their portfolio.
Wine tasting starts at 5 euros, which is incredibly affordable for getting to taste their award winning wine!
For those looking for a more in-depth experience, Barbeito Madeira offers specialized tours that may include food pairings, vertical tastings of rare vintages, and even meetings with the winemakers.
Reservations are required for a wine tasting, and can be made by calling the winery or emailing for a reservation.
2. HM Borges
Founded in 1877 by Henrique Menezes Borges, HM Borges has established itself as one of the main producers of Madeira wine. The fourth generation of winery owners now manages the company, which speaks to its unwavering dedication to quality.
The winery specializes in various styles, from dry to sweet. Their collection boasts a remarkable array of aged wines, some of which date back several decades, offering a rare glimpse into the historical layers of Madeira wine. The Tinta Negra variety is a highlight in many of their acclaimed wines.
Visiting HM Borges
The winery offers guided tours where visitors can witness the age-old processes of wine production, from the initial fermentation to the long aging in Brazilian oak casks. And, during the wine tasting, you will get to hear about each wine’s profile, production method, and aging process.
The tours are also rich in historical insights, offering visitors a chance to learn about Madeira Wine’s evolution and HM Borges’ specific contributions to this legacy. HM Borges sometimes offers thematic tastings or food pairings, showcasing the versatility of Madeira wines in culinary contexts.
The winery has maintained a delicate balance between traditional methods and modern understanding, ensuring the creation of classic and contemporary wines.
3. Henrique & Henriques
Henrique & Henriques, with its roots dating back to the 15th century, stands as one of the most respected names in Madeira wine. Officially established in 1850 by João Gonçalves Henriques, this winery has become part of Madeira’s vinicultural landscape.
This winery is celebrated for its exceptional Madeira range, distinguished by complexity and elegance. They produce a wide variety, from the drier 3-year-old Dry to the rich 20-year-old Malvasia. Their collection includes a selection of age-dated wines, highlighting the winery’s expertise in aging and blending.
Visiting Henrique & Henriques
The winery offers guided tours, allowing visitors to explore its historic cellars and learn about the fascinating process of Madeira wine production. Guests can taste various wines, guided by a staff who provides insights into the characteristics and stories behind each bottle.
The tours emphasize the winery’s history, the evolution of Madeira wine, and the specificities of Henrique & Henriques’ wine-making process. The winery sometimes offers specialized tastings, including rare vintages and discussions on wine-making in Madeira.
4. Blandy’s Wine Lodge
Blandy’s Wine Lodge, in the center of Funchal, was founded by John Blandy in 181. This family-owned business, now under the administration of the 7th generation of the Blandy family, represents a legacy that has been instrumental in shaping the global perception of Madeira wine.
Their extensive aging process, often spanning decades, produces wines of extraordinary complexity and character. The lodge has a remarkable collection, including vintage and solera-aged wines that are a rarity in the world of wine. Signature offerings include Blandy’s Malmsey and Bual, aged 10 to 20 years.
Visiting Blandy’s Wine Lodge
The lodge offers guided tours through its ancient cellars and cask rooms, some dating back to the 17th century. After the tour, there are structured tastings of Blandy’s diverse range of wines.
The tours are packed with educational insights about the winemaking process, including the art of cask aging and the estufagem method unique to Madeira wine. You can book vertical tastings, food pairings, and even blending workshops.
Blandy’s Wine Lodge is a living museum. Its commitment to preserving tradition while adapting to contemporary tastes has become a cornerstone in viniculture.
5. Pereira d’Oliveira
Pereira d’Oliveira, established in 1820, is a living archive of Madeira’s wine history. Located in the heart of Funchal, this respected establishment has been a family-run business for over two centuries. The winery is a custodian of some of the island’s oldest and rarest wines, making it a vital link to Madeira’s vinicultural past.
The winery specializes in a wide range of Madeira wines, from dry to sweet. Notable are their vintage wines, some dating back to the 19th century, offering a unique opportunity to taste the legacy of Madeira. The winery also takes great pride in its old reserves.
Visiting Pereira d’Oliveira
The winery offers tours of its historic cellars, where visitors can see barrels and vats dating back several generations, some still housing wines over a century old. Guests can sample an extensive selection of Pereira d’Oliveira’s wines, guided by staff members who provide insights into each wine’s history and flavor profile.
The tours offer a deep dive into the history of Madeira wine and the processes used at Pereira d’Oliveira, including the traditional canteiro aging method. The winery often opens doors to exclusive tastings of rare and aged wines.
6. Justino’s Madeira Wines
Justino’s Madeira Wines, established in 1870, is one of Madeira’s most prestigious and historic wine producers. With a history of over a century and a half, Justino’s has played a significant role in shaping the island’s wine industry.
At Justino’s, the Madeira wine range is diverse and sophisticated. The winery is famous for its broad spectrum of styles, from dry to richly sweet, each crafted to showcase the unique characteristics of the island’s varietals. Justino’s takes pride in its aged wines, which are notable for their complexity and depth. Their collection includes some remarkable aged Tinta Negra wines.
Visiting Justino’s Madeira
Justino’s offers guided tours of their facilities, showcasing the process of making Madeira wine, from the selection of grapes to aging and blending. The winery’s tasting room allows one to sample a wide array of exquisite wines.
The tours at Justino’s go into the historical aspects of Madeira winemaking and highlight the winery’s innovative approaches to producing contemporary styles. Justino’s sometimes organizes specialized tastings, including vertical tastings of rare and vintage wines.
About Madeira Wine
Madeira wine is one of the island’s most notable exports. This fortified wine, known for its distinctive and complex flavors, results from Madeira’s unique terroir and centuries-old wine-making traditions.
What Makes Madeira Wine Special?
Unique Production Process
Madeira wine undergoes a unique process known as ‘estufagem,’ where it is heated and oxidized, imparting its remarkable longevity and distinct flavor profile. Traditionally, this was achieved by sending the wine on long sea voyages, where it was naturally heated and agitated.
Today, this process is replicated in wineries using controlled conditions, providing Madeira wine with its characteristic robust, rich, and slightly caramelized taste.
Varietal Diversity
Madeira is made primarily from four types of grapes – Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malvasia (also known as Malmsey).
Each grape contributes to a different style of Madeira, ranging from dry to sweet, allowing for a diverse spectrum of wines suitable for different occasions, from aperitifs to dessert wines.
Longevity
One of the most astonishing features of Madeira wine is its longevity. Thanks to its unique production process, Madeira wine can last for decades or even centuries, making it a collector’s favorite.
The Island’s Terroir
Madeira’s volcanic soil, mountainous terrain, and subtropical climate create a distinctive terroir that imparts unique wine qualities.
The island’s vineyards, often on steep terraces, benefit from the rich soil and the varying microclimates, contributing to the unique flavor profiles of the wines.
Summary of Wineries in Madeira
The wineries of Madeira each have their unique story and character. From the historical depths of Blandy’s Wine Lodge to the innovative spirit of Justino’s, these estates provide a complete view of Madeira’s rich winemaking heritage.
Find the timeless techniques at Pereira d’Oliveira, the family legacy of Barbeito Madeira, and the expansive selections at HM Borges and Henrique & Henriques. These wineries in Madeira preserve the timeless traditions of Madeira wine and embrace modernity, ensuring that you will get to see what makes this extraordinary wine region special.
