Blandy's Wine Lodge
The Blandy family's Madeira lodge in central Funchal — the oldest and most visitor-friendly of the Madeira lodges, with a museum, cooperage and guided tastings spanning the four grape styles from dry Sercial to rich Malvasia.
The most accessible Madeira lodge in Funchal, with tastings across all four styles.
For the most accessible Madeira lodge in Funchal, with tastings across all four styles.
What's in the glass
The wines at Blandy's exhibit a remarkable balance between bracing acidity and lush sweetness, signature markers of their meticulous aging process. Each tasting reveals the spectrum of the four noble grapes, ranging from the crystalline, nutty precision of Sercial to the velvety, sun-drenched richness of Malvasia.
How it came to be
Established in 1811, the Blandy family remains the only original wine-making family still active in the ownership and management of their own Madeira wine company. Over two centuries of continuous operation, they have curated a vast library of vintages that trace the evolution of the island's unique craft. The lodge serves as a living museum, housing archives that document the global trade routes that once anchored Madeira in every colonial port.
Best for, and who should skip
History buffs and wine enthusiasts looking for an educational, comprehensive introduction to the diverse styles of Madeira under one roof.
Less ideal for: Travelers seeking a remote, rural vineyard experience amidst rolling grape vines, or those looking for an intimate, quiet tasting room, as the historic central location is highly commercialized and frequently busy with cruise ship groups.
Skip if: Travelers seeking a remote, rural vineyard experience may find the urban, institutional nature of the Funchal lodge less atmospheric than a working countryside estate.
Tours, tastings & getting there
Visitors wander through historic stone cellars where the atmosphere remains imbued with the scent of oak and oxidation. Guided tours demystify the complex maturation process, culminating in structured flights that showcase the house's extensive portfolio in an elegant, cavernous setting.
Getting there: Walkable in central Funchal.
Getting around: The lodge is fully accessible on foot, with well-marked paths through the cooperage and cellar spaces.
Tours run throughout the day, but booking online in advance ensures a place on the more in-depth private tasting sessions. The lodge is located in the heart of Funchal, making it easily accessible via foot or taxi.
When to go
Year-round.
Allow: 2 hours
Beyond the tasting room
Take the guided tour of the museum and cooperage, then a tutored tasting of Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia.
Pair with
Bolo de Mel
A dark, spiced honey and nut cake — Madeira's great sweet, originally made with sugar-cane molasses.
Bolo do Caco
A flat, round sweet-potato bread cooked on a hot stone — Madeira's everyday bread, and the base of its best sandwich.
Espetada
Beef skewers grilled over wood and basted in garlic butter — Madeira's signature meat, eaten at the table from the skewer.
Other wines to explore
D'Oliveiras
A historic Funchal lodge holding extraordinary old stocks of Madeira dating back to the 1850s, beloved by serious Madeira collectors; small, old-school and the place to taste very old vintages.
Henriques & Henriques
One of the oldest Madeira houses (founded 1850), now with a modern winery at Câmara de Lobos and its own vineyards — unusual on the island — producing a full range including rare Terrantez.
Madeira
One of the world's great fortified wines — made on a single volcanic island from Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia grapes, heated and oxidised by the estufagem process into a wine that can age for centuries. The lodges of Funchal are the tasting destination.
Nearby
Funchal
Madeira's capital — a bay city of markets, gardens, wine lodges, and a tiled old town with a spectacular New Year's fireworks show.
Madeira
A subtropical volcanic island of levadas, peaks, Laurisilva forest and a year-round spring climate — a destination guide in itself.
Where it sits
