Madeira Wine: History of Madeira, Port of Funchal, & the Madeira Island Region

When in 1974, a revolution ended 42 years of dictatorship in Portugal, Madeirans took hold of their future. Tourism is the Island's largest industry and is aggressively promoted. Their economy was given a boost when Portugal was admitted into the European Union in 1986.

Find Bargains on Vintage Madeira

In the 1980's, bananas were found to fetch a higher price per acre than grapes, so many vines were replaced with banana trees. Bananas are now the Island's biggest agricultural export.

Regions
The island of Madeira is located southwest of Portugal at a point 400 miles (680km) west of Morocco in the North Atlantic. Steeply rising up to 6000 feet (1800m) out of the sea, this lush volcanic subtropical outcrop, is the largest of a four island archipelago comprising Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited Desertas and Selvagens. The island is 35 miles (57km) long by 14 miles (22km) wide, with a population of about 260,000. Almost half live in the regional capital of Funchal. The island is noted for its natural beauty. Exotic vegetation abounds in a carpet of green. The terrain is rugged with imposing valleys and some of the highest sea-cliffs in the world. The climate is temperate and the winters are mild.

Much like Portugal's other great wine region, the Douro, Madeira is a difficult place to grow grapes. Only about a third of the island is cultivated. Nearly all of the growing areas are to be found on small terraces – called poios. Built with determination, the terraces are carved from bedrock from near sea level up to heights of about 3250 feet (990m) above sea level. The vines are trellised high above the ground to reduce the risk of rot.

The burning of the forests to clear the land for cultivation in the 1420's, left the ground covered with an enriching layer of wood ash. This ash enriched volcanic soil has proved to be quite beneficial for the growing of grapes. Although the rainfall is heavy, some irrigation is required as the soil is very porous.

Grapes are grown all over the island, but the best sites have a southern exposure. The main vineyards are at Câmara de Lôbos and at Santana on the north coast.