Blandy Wine Lodge

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Avenida Arriaga next to the tourist information, Madeira, Portugal

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The Old Blandy Wine Lodge Photo - Blandy Wine Lodge, Madeira, Portugal

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The Old Blandy Wine Lodge

by Drever

Ayr, Scotland, United Kingdom

February 11, 2007

Best of IgoUgo No visit to Madeira would be complete without a visit to the Old Blandy Wine Lodge run by the Madeira Wine Company. Here is the place to find out the story behind the famous Madeira fortified wines.The Company uses the Lodge, once a 17th century ...Read more No visit to Madeira would be complete without a visit to the Old Blandy Wine Lodge run by the Madeira Wine Company. Here is the place to find out the story behind the famous Madeira fortified wines.

The Company uses the Lodge, once a 17th century monastery, as an ageing store for thousands of litres of Madeira wines. Its four main brands are Blandy’s, Cossart Gordon, Leacock, and Miles, with the former two being the premium brands. Blandy wines are a little richer and heavier, while Cossart wines are more fruity and elegant, Leacock wines are sweeter than the other brands, and Miles represents a lighter style.

We took the guided tour—entrance fee 4.2 euros. This includes a visit to the private museum, which contains relics of the wine industry, including wine presses worked by physical effort. The guide explained the history of wines, especially the fortified wines, and took us on a tour of the ageing areas. Fittingly the tour finished with a tasting session in the Max Romer Room and a chance to buy souvenirs.

The Company buys grapes from farmers around the island. The company winery at Mercês processes the grapes. The wine ferments in stainless steel containers at controlled temperatures, some of which are at Brandy Wine Lodge. The MWC makes its own casks at the Mercês winery, though we saw examples of the cooper’s tools and art.

Both Merces and The Old Blandy Wine Lodge between them store five million litres of wine. The Merces lodge also houses the laboratory, tasting room, quality control, bottling, and packing. The Old Blandy Wine Lodge caters more for tourist interest but is also an important storage area for the wines ageing in their barrels.

In the last 10 years the MWC has reinvigorated the image of Madeira wine. New brands like Colheita, Harvest, and Alvada have stimulated interest and created increased demand, especially from new and younger wine drinkers. The most important export markets are the UK, US, Belgium, Japan, and Switzerland.

Many of the old vintages now appear only on auctions or in shops specializing in old Madeira wine. The oldest wines date from 1860 and 1870. Tasting rooms for vintages and blends, shops, and the new 'Arcadas de São Francisco' shopping centre are behind the lodge.

We supplemented our tour with a visit to the gardens of Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro (formerly known as Blandy’s Gardens), a short bus ride from Funchal. This property has been in the hands of the Blandy family for more than a century. The gardens, which have terraces tumbling down the steep hillside, are famous for their camellias. They hold the distinctive charming and peaceful atmosphere of an English country house helped by pools and fountains. Unfortunately the house itself is not open to the public.

John Blandy, who founded the company now bearing his name, originally set foot on the island as a British soldier in 1807. Close

From journal Madeira-warm, luxuriant, educational and entertaining

Blandy wine lodge

by linet

Eindhoven, Netherlands

January 3, 2004

Blandy: Belongs to the family Balandy, who also own a botanical garden and tourism agency. It is centrally located in Funchal on Avenida Arriaga next the tourist information. Helpful staff, delicious wine.

From journal Madeira: Spring Forever

Blandy Wine Lodge

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The Old Blandy Wine Lodge

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