The Madeira Wine Company is one of the principal Madeira wine producers, formed in 1913 through the consolidation of several historic houses. Today it owns well-known brands including Blandy’s, Cossart Gordon, Leacock’s and Miles.
For anyone exploring Madeira wine in depth, the Madeira Wine Company stands out not just for its wines, but for its connection to several of the island’s most recognised historic names. These include long-established shipping houses that helped shape the international reputation of Madeira wine over centuries of trade.
Today, the Madeira Wine Company remains closely associated with the production, maturation, and export of traditional fortified wines that define the category—ranging from approachable blends to long-aged, cask-matured wines produced using classic techniques such as canteiro.
In a Nutshell
- Location: Funchal, Madeira
- Website: blandys.com
- House style: Traditional Madeira wine with a focus on age-indicated blends and long cask ageing
- What they are known for: Managing several historic Madeira wine brands and maintaining significant stocks of aged wines
What’s on this page
1. Origin Story of Madeira Wine Company
2. Ownership & Evolution
3. Production & Winemaking
4. Wines to Know
5. Visiting Madeira Wine Company
6. Interesting Facts
7. Related Madeira Wine Producers
8. FAQs About Madeira Wine Company
1. Origin Story of Madeira Wine Company
The Madeira Wine Company emerged as part of a broader consolidation within the Madeira wine trade, bringing together several historic shipping houses under a single organisational structure. These historic firms had played a key role in exporting Madeira wine to international markets, particularly during periods when Madeira was a central hub in Atlantic trade routes.
Historically, Madeira wine producers and shippers were often small, family-run businesses, many with origins dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Over time, economic pressures, changes in global demand, and the challenges of maintaining long-term ageing stocks led to consolidation within the industry.
The formation of the Madeira Wine Company reflects this evolution, preserving the legacy of these earlier producers while enabling continued production and export at scale.
Madeira Wine Company timeline highlights
- 1913: The Madeira Wine Association (MWA) is formed when three shippers—Hinton, Welsh & Cunha, and Henriques & Câmara—join forces.
- 1925: The Blandy and Leacock families amalgamate their wine interests with Viuva Abudarham and join the MWA.
- 1949: Miles joins the MWA.
- 1953: Cossart Gordon joins the MWA, bringing another historic Madeira house into the group.
- 1981: The Madeira Wine Association is renamed Madeira Wine Company (MWC).
- 1988: The Blandy family enters a joint venture with the Symington family of Oporto to strengthen international distribution.
- 1990: The Symington family takes a controlling interest in the business.
- 1990s: MWC’s winemaking and ageing practices are modernised and quality improves significantly.
- 2010–2011: The Symingtons sell most of their holding back to the Blandy family.
- 2012: Christopher Blandy takes over management of the Madeira Wine Company.
2. Ownership & Evolution
The Madeira Wine Company represents the continuation of several historic Madeira wine houses under unified management. Over time, the company has evolved to maintain both traditional production methods and modern commercial operations.
This evolution mirrors broader trends in the Madeira wine industry, where maintaining extensive stocks of aged wine—often matured over decades—requires long-term investment and stability. The company has therefore played an important role in ensuring the survival and continuity of historic Madeira wine styles.
In addition to preserving older stocks, the Madeira Wine Company continues to produce wines across a range of age categories, supporting both entry-level and premium segments of the Madeira wine market.
3. Production & Winemaking
The Madeira Wine Company produces wines using traditional Madeira wine techniques, including both canteiro ageing and controlled heating methods. These approaches are fundamental to the distinctive character of Madeira wine, where heat and oxidation are deliberately used to shape the wine’s flavour profile.
The canteiro method involves ageing wine slowly in cask, often in warm lofts or warehouses, allowing gradual oxidation and concentration over many years. This process is associated with higher-quality, long-lived Madeira wines and is central to the production philosophy of many historic producers.
In addition to canteiro, the company also produces wines that may undergo estufagem, a controlled heating process that accelerates the development of Madeira’s characteristic flavours. These methods are regulated under Madeira’s official production rules, which define categories such as age-indicated wines and vintage-dated wines.
The company works with the classic Madeira grape varieties, including Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malvasia, each associated with different levels of sweetness and stylistic profiles. These wines are typically fortified and aged for extended periods, resulting in exceptional longevity and stability.
4. Wines to Know
Age-Statement Madeira Wines
The Madeira Wine Company produces a range of age-indicated wines, typically labelled as 5, 10, 15, 20 years and beyond. These wines are blends designed to reflect a consistent house style at each age level.
Single-Varietal Styles
Classic varietal expressions such as Sercial (dry), Verdelho (medium dry), Bual (medium rich), and Malvasia (rich) form a core part of the company’s range, offering a structured way to explore Madeira wine styles.
Vintage & Long-Aged Wines
The company also manages stocks of older wines, including vintage-dated Madeira wines that have been aged for extended periods in cask before bottling. These wines represent the traditional pinnacle of Madeira wine production.
5. Visiting Madeira Wine Company
The Madeira Wine Company is based in Funchal, the main city of Madeira and the centre of the island’s wine trade. Some of the company’s associated brands operate visitor experiences, including tastings and tours, typically within historic wine lodges in the city.
As visitor access can vary by brand and location, it is advisable to check directly with the relevant producer website for current opening hours and availability.
6. Interesting Facts
- The Madeira Wine Company represents a consolidation of several historic Madeira wine shipping houses.
- Its operations are closely tied to Funchal, the historic centre of Madeira’s wine trade.
- The company maintains stocks of aged Madeira wine, some matured over long periods in cask.
- Traditional ageing methods such as canteiro remain central to its production approach.
7. Related Madeira Wine Producers
Henriques & Henriques – Another major Madeira wine producer with a strong focus on traditional styles and vineyard holdings on the island.
Justino’s – A large-scale Madeira wine producer known for its broad commercial range and international distribution.
Barbeito – A more modern Madeira wine house known for innovation and stylistic precision, offering a contrast to more traditional producers.
Pereira d’Oliveira – A historic producer recognised for its extensive stocks of older Madeira wines and long cask ageing.
8. FAQs About Madeira Wine Company
Where is Madeira Wine Company located?
The Madeira Wine Company is based in Funchal, the capital of Madeira and the centre of the island’s wine trade.
What types of Madeira wine does Madeira Wine Company produce?
The company produces a wide range of Madeira wines, including age-indicated blends, varietal wines such as Sercial and Malvasia, and long-aged vintage wines.
How does Madeira Wine Company age its wines?
The company uses traditional ageing methods including canteiro (long cask ageing) and controlled heating processes such as estufagem, both of which are central to Madeira wine production.
Can you visit Madeira Wine Company?
Some associated brands offer tastings and tours in Funchal, but availability varies. It is best to check directly with the relevant producer website before visiting.