BLANDY’ S WINE LODGE | FEATURE
The Blandy’ s Wine Lodge
A tour of Funchal is not complete without a visit to the most famous of all the Madeira Wine Lodges, Blandy’ s Wine Lodge, located next to the municipal gardens in the city centre
Celebrating 200 years since the establishment of the company in 1811, Blandy’ s Madeira took shape at the beginning of the 19th century in what was an annex to the 17th Century São Francisco Monastery.
Unique artifacts and historical documents recount the history of the family and their wines and records show some of the many famous visitors who visited the Lodge over the years.
For 200 years the Blandy family has dedicated their time, art and passion to the creation of their highly appreciated and world-famous wines, Blandy’ s Madeira.
Still very much in use today, the Blandy’ s Wine Lodge is where the finest wines are aged using traditional methods. Take a tour through the lodge to learn the art of barrel making at the cooperage and visit the warm lofts where over 650 barrels( 720.000 litres) of the finest Madeiras age.
OPENING HOURS: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:30 Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00 Closed Sundays and Public Holidays Daily Tour and Tasting available
CONTACTS: Avenida Arriaga, 28- Funchal Tel.: 291 740 110 Fax: 291 740 111 Email: pubrel @ madeirawinecompany. com www. blandys. com
Wine tasting takes place in the“ Max Römer” room; a room with a unique atmosphere surrounded by beautiful murals by this renowned German artist depicting the process from grape to wine.
Cross over to the‘ Frasqueira’ or the vintage Cellar where the rarest and oldest vintage Madeiras are stored. Wines dating back to the early 20th Century can be tasted, from the 1920 Bual to the 1984 Verdelho, the most recent vintage to be bottled by the company.
A visit to the museum illustrates why Madeira wine is one of the island’ s oldest and most important ambassadors.
| www. madeira-life. net | Summer 2012 | 23