Justino’s is one of the largest and longest-established Madeira wine producers, with a history that reflects both the commercial evolution and resilience of the island’s fortified wine trade. Establish in 1870, the company has been closely associated with the production and export of Madeira wine across a wide range of styles, from accessible blends to long-aged examples.
Within the broader landscape of Madeira wine, Justino’s occupies an important position as a producer that has consistently focused on volume production alongside traditional ageing practices. The house is widely present in international markets, making it a familiar name for those first encountering Madeira wine as well as for more experienced drinkers exploring different styles.
Today, Justino’s continues to represent a key strand of the Madeira wine industry: a producer balancing commercial scale with adherence to the island’s distinctive winemaking methods, including oxidative ageing and controlled heating processes that define Madeira wine.
In a Nutshell
- Founded: 1870
- Location: Madeira (Portugal)
- Website: justinosmadeira.com
- House style: Broad range of Madeira wine styles from young blends to aged wines
- Known for: Large-scale production and international distribution of Madeira wine
What’s on this page
1. Origin Story of Justino’s
2. Ownership & Evolution
3. Production & Winemaking
4. Wines to Know
5. Visiting Justino’s
6. Interesting Facts
7. Related Madeira Wine Producers
8. FAQs About Justino’s
1. Origin Story of Justino’s
Justino’s traces its origins to the nineteenth century, a period when Madeira wine was already an established export product but facing cycles of boom and decline due to disease, competition, and shifting global demand. The company emerged during a time when producers were rebuilding after the major vineyard crises of the mid-1800s.
The business was founded in 1870 and became part of the network of shippers operating from Madeira, supplying fortified wines to international markets. This era saw a transition from the dominance of small merchant traders toward more structured wine companies capable of managing production, ageing, and export on a larger scale.
From the outset, Justino’s was oriented toward export markets, reflecting the long-standing dependence of Madeira wine on overseas demand. The company developed alongside the broader recovery of the island’s wine sector following the devastation of oidium and phylloxera in the nineteenth century, which had drastically reduced production before gradual replanting and restructuring took place.
Justino’s timeline highlights
- 1870: Justino Henriques is founded as a small family-owned Madeira wine shipper.
- 1930s: The company trades primarily with Brazil as its main export market.
- 1940s–1950s: Following difficulties in Brazil, Justino’s develops a market in Canada.
- Early 1960s: Ownership becomes fragmented among family descendants, leading to the eventual sale of the company.
- 1981: The company is acquired by Siegfredo da Costa Campos, who begins a major turnaround of the business.
- 1994: Justino’s moves from central Funchal to a purpose-built facility in Cancela, improving production capacity and infrastructure.
- 2009: Full ownership passes to La Martiniquaise, marking a new phase of international integration.
- 2010: La Martiniquaise acquires a stake in Henriques & Henriques, linking the two producers under joint management.
2. Ownership & Evolution
Over time, Justino’s evolved from a traditional shipping house into a more modern wine company, adapting to changes in production techniques, regulation, and global demand. Like many Madeira wine producers, it has had to navigate shifts in market preference, including the decline of Madeira’s historic export markets and the later resurgence of interest in fortified wines.
The twentieth century brought significant restructuring across the Madeira wine industry, with increased regulation, improved quality control, and the gradual consolidation of producers. Justino’s adapted to these changes by maintaining a consistent export focus while expanding its range of wines to meet different market segments.
This evolution reflects broader trends within Madeira wine, where producers have balanced tradition with modernisation, particularly in response to stricter regulatory frameworks governing production, ageing, and labelling.
3. Production & Winemaking
Justino’s produces Madeira wine using the island’s traditional methods, which rely on a combination of fortification, oxidation, and heat exposure to create wines of exceptional stability and longevity.
The production process begins with fermentation followed by fortification using grape spirit, a defining feature of Madeira wine. The wines are then subjected to controlled heating, either through the estufagem system or through slower natural ageing in cask known as canteiro. These processes replicate the historical conditions that gave Madeira wine its distinctive character, originally discovered during long sea voyages.
Artificial heating techniques such as estufagem were developed to accelerate maturation, producing wines that could mimic the effects of extended ageing in cask. While effective for younger wines, extended ageing remains essential for producing the complexity associated with higher-quality Madeira.
Justino’s works with the traditional white grape varieties of Madeira, including Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malvasia, each associated with a different level of sweetness. The house produces wines across this spectrum, from dry to rich styles, reflecting the diversity that defines Madeira wine.
4. Wines to Know
3 Year Old Madeira
Entry-level wines designed for accessibility, typically produced using the estufagem method. These wines offer an introduction to Madeira wine’s characteristic oxidative flavours.
5 Year Old Madeira
Often labelled as Reserve, these wines show greater integration of sweetness and acidity, with more developed nutty and caramelised notes.
10 Year Old Madeira
A step up in complexity, these wines begin to show the layered character associated with longer ageing, including dried fruit, spice, and pronounced oxidative aromas.
Grape Variety Wines
Justino’s produces wines labelled by grape variety, including Sercial (dry), Verdelho (medium-dry), Bual (medium-sweet), and Malvasia (sweet), allowing drinkers to explore the full stylistic range of Madeira wine.
5. Visiting Justino’s
Specific visitor information for Justino’s is not consistently detailed in publicly available sources. As with many Madeira wine producers, visits may be possible by prior arrangement, but confirmation should be obtained directly through the producer’s official website.
6. Interesting Facts
- Justino’s has been active since the nineteenth century, a period marked by major upheaval in Madeira’s wine industry.
- The producer is widely distributed internationally, making it one of the more accessible Madeira wine brands globally.
- Its portfolio spans the full spectrum of Madeira wine styles, from dry Sercial to rich Malvasia.
- The company reflects the transition of Madeira wine from traditional merchant shipping to modern global distribution.
7. Related Madeira Wine Producers
Henriques & Henriques
A long-established Madeira wine producer also known for a wide range of styles and a strong focus on both aged and accessible wines.
H.M. Borges
Another historic Madeira wine house with roots in the nineteenth century, offering a comparable mix of traditional and commercial production.
Barbeito
A more modern and innovative producer, often contrasted with Justino’s for its focus on smaller-scale, quality-driven wines.
Madeira Wine Company
A major group in the Madeira wine industry, representing several historic brands and playing a key role in the island’s export trade.
8. FAQs About Justino’s
When was Justino’s founded?
Justino’s was founded in 1870 during a period of rebuilding and restructuring in the Madeira wine industry.
Where is Justino’s located?
Justino’s is based on the island of Madeira, Portugal, within the demarcated region for Madeira wine production.
What styles of Madeira wine does Justino’s produce?
The producer makes a wide range of styles, from dry Sercial to sweet Malvasia, as well as age-indicated blends.
How does Justino’s age its Madeira wine?
Justino’s uses traditional Madeira ageing methods, including estufagem for younger wines and extended cask ageing for more complex styles.
Can you visit Justino’s?
Visitor access is not clearly detailed in all sources, so it is best to check directly with the producer for current visiting arrangements.