A fortified wine deliberately heated as it ages, made dry to sweet across Sercial, Verdelho, Boal and Malvasia. Almost indestructible once opened, and the reason Funchal has wine lodges on its main avenue.
The Malvasia vine was planted on Madeira in the 15th century on Prince Henry's orders, to break the Venetian and Genoese hold on the wine trade. Barrels loaded as ballast crossed the tropics twice, and shippers found the heat and motion improved rather than ruined the wine. Producers reproduced the effect on land through the canteiro method, ageing casks in warm lofts for years or decades. Blandy's and H.M. Borges still do it in central Funchal, and the wine goes from bone dry Sercial through to sweet Malvasia.
3 editor picks for Vinho da Madeira in Funchal, ranked by editorial score. All Funchal signature dishes · Vinho da Madeira across every city.
Blandy's Wine Lodge ★ 4.6
Sé · Avenida Arriaga 28, 9000-064 Funchal
Blandy's Wine Lodge ages Madeira by the canteiro method on Avenida Arriaga, where over 650 barrels and vats rest above the street in the family lodge.
UVA Restaurant & Wine Bar ★ 4.5
Sé · Rua dos Aranhas 27-A, 9000-044 Funchal
UVA is the rooftop restaurant and wine bar at The Vine in Funchal, where chef Thomas Faudry runs a farm-to-table Madeiran line above the harbour.
H.M. Borges ★ 4.4
Sé · Rua 31 de Janeiro 83, 9050-401 Funchal
H.M. Borges has bottled Madeira since 1877 and worked from its Rua 31 de Janeiro building since 1924, running guided cellar tours and tastings from the adega.