Hotels near Blandy's Wine Lodge

Madeira wine has been made on the island since the 15th century and is one of the few wines deliberately aged through heat - traditionally in cargo holds that crossed the equator, today in temperature-controlled rooms called estufas. Blandy's Wine Lodge on Avenida Arriaga has been in continuous operation since 1840 and is the easiest place to learn the story.

The 17-EUR guided tour lasts 45 minutes, includes a walk through the original 17th-century pinewood casks, and ends with a tasting of three styles - dry Sercial, off-dry Verdelho, and sweet Bual or Malmsey. Older Frasqueira (vintage) bottlings, some over 100 years old, are sold at the on-site shop. American history fans will note that the founding fathers used Madeira to toast the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Pro Tip: Skip the basic tasting and book the Premium 5-Wine Experience (35 EUR) to compare 10-year-old wines across all four grape styles. Sessions run hourly from 10 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Saturday.