On the island of Madeira there are two types of companies: producers and shippers. Producers make Madeira wine and sell it, shippers just trade the wine. Most of the producers have their seat in Funchal, most of the shippers are located in London. Many international companies that have a Madeira wine in their range of products order one of the original producers to bottle a wine under the company’s name, Sandeman as an example. And there is a third type of company in the wine business, the so-called partidistas, similar to the almacenistas of the Sherry-business. They store and mature wine, but they do not sell the wine directly to the market but to other traders. The following list is in alphabetical order and lists everything that you might find on a bottle or a label besides the grape variety and the year of vintage. A list of known Madeira vintages follows in one of the later chapters; the grape varieties are described in detail a few pages up. 3YO means three years old. The availability of vintages changes daily so I did not list the vintages for sale.
Not every name will appear in this list. Some landowners bottled wine under their initials, sometimes adding the village or the vineyard. AOSM as an example means Annibal Oliveira, vineyard owner in Sao Martinho. Especially older vintages used to be traded in cask and were only bottled in their country of destination. The wines were then named after the ship that transported them, or the trader’s newborn child or whatever. In the US this custom was very common. People named their Madeira wines after anything, wives, lovers, weddings, horse races or horses and the color of the cask. So names like these you will not find in the list. Also you have to remind that, due to their private character, wines with such an exotic name were always small in number of bottles.
Companies, Shippers, Import Brands And More
Abudarham, Vinhos Viúva & Filhos Lda. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1934, probably went out of trade in 1980.
Acciaioly, Oskar
Last member of the Acciaioly family from Florence, Italy, that came to the island in the 16th century. Acciaioly used to export a lot of wine to Russia until 1916, he also exported wine into the Scandinavian countries until the late 1970’s. A lot of the remaining wines was sold in 1989 by Christie’s. Also Barbeito acquired some of the Acciaioly wines and sold the bottled wines with the original label. The wines in cask were later sold under the Barbeito label.
Adegas Exportadora de Vinhos da Madeira Lda. (Borges)
Brand of H. M. Borges for 3YO, traded by: Pofuturo, Sociedade Commercial de Bebidas Lda., Sitio do Pico do Cardo, Santo Antonio, P-9000 Funchal. Old address of Adega Exportadora: Rua das Avores 83, Funchal.
Aguiar Freitas & Ca Sucrs. Lda. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1936, probably went out of trade in 1980.
AO
See Acciaioly, Oskar.
AO-SM
Initials of Anibal D'Oliveira, vineyard owner in Sao Martinho, some old vintages from the 19th century still exist.
Averys
A long established wine trader in Bristol, Great Britain since 1793. Used to bottle Madeira wines under their own label and imported wines by Cossart Gordon. Initiated a first small Madeira renaissance with a large sale of high class vintages in 1956. Today, Averys still trades some wines by D'Oliveiras, but no vintages anymore.
Address: Averys, Orchard House, Southfield Road, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 1JN, Great Britain, Tel: 01275-811-100, Fax: 01275-811-101.
Barbeito Vinhos Lda.
Company founded in 1947, today belonging to the Kinoshita Shoji Company, a Japanese company trading in beverages.
Export, sale: Estrada Monumental 145, P-9000 Funchal, right besides the famous Reid's hotel, left to Banco Espirito Santo, Tel 00351-291-762434, Fax 00351-291-765832. Storing facility: Torre, Camara de Lobos, Tel 00351-291-942094. Another shop: Av. Arriaga 48, Funchal, Tel 00351-291-237125.
Offer: Island Rich and Dry 3Y, Crown 5Y, Special Reserve 10Y, Vintages. Sightseeing and tasting in Estrada Monumental.
Barros, Almeida & Co (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1936, probably went out of trade in 1980.
de Barros e Sousa Lda., Artur
Small company owned by the Olim family, founded in 1921, run today by the three Olim brothers.
Address: Rua dos Ferreiros 109, P-9000 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-220622.
Offer: 3Y, 5Y and 10Y, vintages, vintages with less then 20 years in cask. Produces wines only by the Canteiro method, sells wines by mail.
Bates & Schoonmaker Inc.
Former US importer for T. T. da Camara Lomelino. Address was: 17 East 42nd Street, New York City.
Bianchi, Carlo de
Famous 19th century collector of Madeira wines. He inherited the Lomelino Company after the death of Tarquinio Torquato da Camara Lomelino. C de B are the initials on bottles from his private stock.
Bianchi's Madeira Lda. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1953, probably went out of trade in 1980.
Blandy's Madeiras Lda. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, founded in 1811, joined in 1934, the premium brand of the MWC, see MWC for address and details.
Offer: Finest 3Y, Reserve 5Y, Dukes-series 5Y, Special Reserve 10Y, soleras, vintages.
Borges Sucrs. Lda., H. M.
Company founded in 1877, associated are: Adega Exportadora de Vinhos da Madeira, G. H. Goncalvez.
Address: Rua 31 Janeiro 83, PO Box 92, P-9001 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-223247, Fax 00351-291-941590.
Offer: Blends 3YO, 5YO, 10YO, soleras, vintages, tasting and sightseeing. Importer for Germany: Rum Albrecht & Co, 29544 Bad Bevensen.
Broadbent
Company owned by Bartholomew Broadbent, son of Christie’s famous Michael Broadbent. Broadbent Selections Inc. markets various blends, vintages and colheitas. The wines are also available in Europe and Japan.
C de B
See Bianchi, Carlo de.
Camara de Lobos
Village at the south coast, made famous by Sir Winston Churchill. Centre of the winegrowing region there. The mentioning of Camara de Lobos usually indicates a medium-sweet bual-type of wine.
Casa dos Vinhos da Madeira (H&H)
Brand of Henriques & Henriques.
Old address: Rua dos Ferreiros 125, P-9001 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-236767.
CC
See Cossart Gordon.
Chairman
Medium dry blend, brand of Chairmans, London, for the European market. Importer for Germany: Max Burkhardt, Hamburg.
Clauzel, A.
French importer of Madeira wine.
Companhia Vinicola da Madeira
Nothing known besides a Terrantez from 1795, some other vintages and some three year old blends. Associated with Justino Henriques Filhos, see there.
Cossart Gordon Lda. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, founded in 1745, joined in 1953, see MWC for address and details.
Offer: Good Company series, Finest 3Y, Reserve 5Y, Special Reserve 10Y, Duo Centenary series 15Y, soleras, vintages.
Cunha, E. A. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, out of trade.
Cunha, J. A.
See Pereira D'Oliveira.
CVM
Initials of the Companhia Vinicola da Madeira.
Donaldson Vinhos & Cia (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1934, probably went out of trade in 1980, but is still used in Japan.
EBH
Initials of Eugenia Bianchi Henriques, granddaughter of Carlo de Bianchi. See also Bianchi, Carlo de.
Espinheiro Madeira
Medium dry blend, only found in miniatures so far. Imported for the German market by J. Buxtorf, Wichelhausen & Co, Bremen.
Fairlie, Captain David
One of the descendants of the original owners of the Torre Bella estate. Also a well known collector of Madeira wines who had married into the Blandy family. The collection was auctioned off in 1988 by Christie's. Also see Torre Bella.
Faja dos Padres
Once the best-known vineyard on the island, situated on sea-level west of the Cabo Girao, the second highest cliff in the world with a height of 580 meters. (The highest can be found in eastern Taiwan, being 760 meters high) Until the end of the 19th century the best and most famous Malvasia wines were grown at the Faja. Today there is no significant wine growing done here.
Faria J. & Filhos Lda.
Address: Rua dos Maravilhas 25CC/25D, P-9000 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-742935, Fax 00351-291-742255.
Offer: 3YO, 5YO, fruitliquers, Aguadente de Cana.
Fernandez, M. E.
Said to produce wine by the Canteiro-method. Address and offer unknown, you can find a 3YO in Funchal.
Ferraz, F. F. & Co (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, founded in 1915, joined in 1937, went out of trade in 1988.
Flagman
Medium dry blend, import brand of Eggers & Franke, Bremen, for the German market. Traded by Flagmans Ltd, London.
Funchal Wine Co. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, probably went out of trade in 1980.
Gaselee, Sir Stephen
Famous collector of Madeira wines at the beginning of the 20th century.
Gibbs & Co (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, founded 1857, went out of trade.
Godard
German filler of half-dry Madeira miniatures with the name Camara de Lobos. Former address: Godard GmbH, Neuss/Rhein.
Goelet, P. P.
U. S. importer and/or collector of Madeira wines in the 19th century, the family also owns Clos du Val in the Napa valley in California and Taltarni in Australia. The large collection seems to have been sold off since some of the bottles surfaced since 2000, though I could not find out where or when. Many of their bottles contain wines that were shipped in cask across the equator, so these bottles bear the ships names like “Brig Twin”, “Francis”, “Juno”, “Rebel” or “Southern Cross”.
Gomez, Luiz (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, founded in 1868, joined in 1953, probably went out of trade in 1988.
Gonçalves, J. H. (Borges)
Brand of H. M. Borges for 3YO, distributed by Manuel da Silva Peixoto & Co Lda., Rua do Sabao 21, P-9000 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-204590/222326.
Gonçalves Lda., P. E.
Address: Jesus Maria José, P-9300 Camara de Lobos, Tel 00351-291-942813, Fax 00351-291-941510.
Probably associated with J. Faria & Filhos, offer not known.
Grabham, Dr. Michael & Walther
Father and son; the father married into the Blandy family and collected Madeira wines.
Habersham, William Neyle
Eccentric merchant in Savannah, Georgia, born 1817. He was famous for the strange treatment of his Madeira wines and is said to be the inventor of rainwater Madeira. His huge Madeira wine collection was sold in 1900.
Henriques & Henriques = H&H
Biggest independent producer of Madeira wine, founded in 1850. Associated are: Belem (founded 1932), Carmo Vinhos (founded 1928), Casa dos Vinhos da Madeira (founded 1932), Antonio Eduardo Henriques (founded 1960).
Address: Caminho Grande e Preces, Sitio de Belém, P-9300 Câmara de Lobos, Tel 00351-291-941551 or 941552, Fax 00351-291-941590. West from the center of the village with a traffic circle you go up the road a few minutes. The big building with the southern glass front is the main office with tasting rooms and other facilities. An adega is also located in Ribeira do Escrivao, Quinta Grande, Tel 00351-291-942203.
Offer: 3Y, Belem Rainwater, Reserve 5Y, Special Reserve 10Y, 15YO, vintages and soleras.
HH
See Henriques & Henriques.
HMB
See Borges, H. M.
JNV
See Junta Nacional do Vinho.
JRT
See Teixeira, J. R.
Junta Nacional do Vinho
The JNV was founded in 1937. From 1940 on it controlled the production of Madeira wine in Funchal. The JNV awarded the JNV paper seal that was put over the cork of every bottle of Madeira wine bottled on the island. The first paper seals where just paper stripes with a small printed seal on it, later becoming a unique shape that was copied in the IVM seal. The IVM relieved the JNV in 1980. The JNV wax seal is described in the chapter about old bottles.
Different JNV paper seals
Justino Henriques Filhos, Vinhos
Small independent producer. Associated are Companhia Vinicola da Madeira and Monteiro Vinhos. The company is owned by Sigfredo da Costas Campos and the french La Martiniquaise company.
Address: Parque Industrial Cancela, P-9125 Canico, Tel 00351-291-934257, Fax 00351-291-934049.
Offer: 3YO, 5YO, 10YO, vintages of Companhia Vinicola.
Instituto do Vinho da Madeira
See Madeira Wine Institute
IVM
See Madeira Wine Institute.
Kassab, B. A.
Braheem A. Kassab, syrian merchant collected Madeira Wines at the beginning of the 20th century. His bottles were marked with the seal BAK.
Kopke, C. N.
Founded in 1638, Kopke is the oldest existing Port wine company, situated in Vila Nova de Gaia. Kopke exported at least a three year old blend through a branch in Funchal. German importer and filler was Cinzano & Cia in Frankfurt/Main.
Kraus Bros. & Co
Former US importer for Welsh Brothers. Address was: 18-22 West Street, New York.
Krohn Brothers Lda. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1951, probably went out of trade in 1980.
Leacock & Co (MWC)
Brand of the Madeira Wine Company, founded in 1760, joined in 1934, address and details see MWC.
Offer: St. John 3YO, Rainwater, Finest 3Y, Reserve 5Y, Special Reserve 10Y, soleras, vintages.
Lloyd-O'Donnell-Tilgh
Famous American collection of Madeira wines.
Lomelino, Tarquinio Torquato da Camara (MWC)
Brand of the Madeira Wine Company, founded in 1820, Portuguese at first then English and joined the MWC in 1936, went out of trade in 1988, but is still used in Belgium.
Madeira Meneres, Sociedade dos Vinhos (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1936, went out of trade in 1980.
Madeira Victoria & Co (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1936, went out of trade in 1980, but is still used in Holland.
Madeira Wine Association = MWA
See Madeira Wine Company.
Madeira Wine Company = MWC
Company consisting of 26 mostly British shippers who joined forces since 1913. Early name was Madeira Wine Association. Being a corporation since 1987, the company today belongs to the Blandy family and the Port wine company Symington. Three year old blends are produced with the estufagem method. all other wines are made by the Canteiro method. Many old brands of the MWC are no longer being produced, but are still available from private sources or on auctions. In 2000 only the four remaining brands Blandy's, Cossart Gordon, Leacock and Miles were offered in Funchal. Miles is probably the next brand to go out of trade and it might not be surprising if only the Blandy brand remains. German importer is Wein Wolf Import GmbH & Co, Königswinterer Str. 552, 53227 Bonn, Tel 0228-4496267, Fax 0228-4496269.
Address: Adegas São Francisco, Departamento de Relações Publicas, Avenida Arriaga 28, P-9003 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-740110/740100, Fax 00351-291-227043. The other facility is called Merces, located in Rua dos Ferreiros 191, left to the Adegas de Torreao. P-9003 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-741278, Fax 00351-291-741935.
Offer: blends: 3YO, 5YO, 10YO, 15YO, soleras, vintages, tasting and shopping. Museum and shop with interesting things about the island and the wine, opened 9-17.30, interesting tours through the lodge with free tasting. The different brands each have their own character.
Madeira Wine Institute (Instituto do Vinho da Madeira)
Address: Rua 5 de Outobro 78, P-9000 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-229150, Fax 00351-291-228685.
Offer: 3Y, 5Y and 10Y, sometimes vintages.
Founded in 1980, the IVM awards the paper seal on each bottle of island bottled wine. The IVM relieved the Junta Nacional do Vinho. The JNV wax seal of authenticity is described in the chapter about old bottles. The IVM paper seal bears the complete coat of arms of the island or just the cross in the older seals.
Different IVM paper seals
Madère de L'Ile
Blend for the French market imported by A. Clauzel.
Martins F., Caldeira & Co. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1960, went out of trade in 1988.
Miles Madeira (MWC)
Old name: Rutherford & Miles, brand of the Madeira Wine Company, founded in 1814, joined in 1969, address and details see MWC.
Offer: Finest 3Y, Reserve 5Y, Special Reserve 10Y, soleras, vintages.
Monteiro Vinhos (Just. Henriques)
Associated with Justino Henriques e Filhos, see there.
MWA
Madeira Wine Association, see there.
MWC
Madeira Wine Company, see there.
Nobrega, A. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1953, probably went out of trade in 1980.
D'Oliveira, Aníbal
See Pereira D'Oliveira
Owens-Thomas
House in Savannah, Georgia, with small museum. In the cellar you can find a huge collection of Madeira wines with handwritten labels.
Parkington, J. R. & Co
Former British importer for Power Drury. Address was: 161 New Bond Street, London W. 1.
Pereira D'Oliveira Vinhos
Small family-owned producer, founded in 1820. Associated are Julio Augusto Cunha and Joao Joaquim Camacho
Address: Rua dos Ferreiros 107, P-9000 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-220784, Fax 00351-291-229081. Lager Tel 00351-291-228622.
Offer: Finest 3Y, Reserve 5Y, Special Reserve 10Y, soleras, vintages, Moscatel vintages, sightseeing, buying and tasting. D'Oliveira sends wines by mail.
Power Drury (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1934, went out of trade in 1988. Nevertheless the brand is sometimes used for 3YO wines.
Pries Scholtz, A. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, probably went out of trade in 1980. Importer for Germany was Bols-Import, Neuss/Rhein.
Quinta
Quinta means estate in Portuguese. Many famous wines were bottled under the name of the producing quinta.
Quinta do Serrado
Estate in Camara de Lobos owned by the family of Antonio Eduardo Henriques. A large stock of their wines (about 1200 bottles of each, 1827 and 1830) was sold at Christie’s in the late 1980ies.
Royal Madeira Company (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1936, probably went out of trade in 1980.
Rozès
Import company for the French market, probably no longer existing. Former address in Funchal: Rozès Lda., Rua San Pedro 18, Funchal. Former address in Bordeaux: Ed. Rozés, 20 Rue Raze, Bordeaux.
Rutherford & Miles (MWC)
See Miles.
Sandeman
Bottled by Casa dos Vinhos da Madeira, Henriques & Henriques.
Santa Luzia (MWC)
Brand of the MWC for the market in Finland.
Sarmento, José
Import company for the French market, probably no longer existing. Former Bordeaux address: Union Europeene d'Importation. 136 Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux, France.
Schenley Import Corporation
Former importer for Power Drury for the US. Address was: 18 West 40th Street, New York.
Seager, Evans & Co.
Used to be the London importers for Blandy's. Old address: 20 Queen Anna's Gate, London S. W. 1.
Shortridge Lawton & Co, Vinhos (MWC)
Brand of the Madeira Wine Company, founded in 1757, joined in 1934, probably went out of trade in 1988. Wines are sought after by collectors since they were one of the last wines to be matured by the traditional sea voyage.
Silva Vinhos Lda
Founded in 1990 by the Silva brothers.
Address: Sitio da Igreja, Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, P-9300 Câmara de Lobos, Tel 00315-291-945810, Fax 00351-291-945199.
Bought the rights for the Veiga Franca brand.
Offer: 3Y, 5Y and 10Y. Some old Veiga Franca vintages and soleras are available from private sources and auctions.
Socieda Agricola da Madeira (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, founded in 1928, joined in 1937, went out of trade.
Spence-Symington
Famous American collection of Madeira Wines.
Spinola, J. B. (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1936, probably went out of trade in 1980.
Taylor, W. A. & Co.
Used to be the U.S. importers for Blandy's. Also marketed Madeira wine under their own name. Old address: 12-13 Laight Street, NY.
Teixeira, J. R. (also written Teixera in some catalogues)
Teixeira was one of the captains that sailed with Zarco when he claimed Madeira island for Portugal. A 1863 Boal and a 1870 Boal were auctioned at Christies some time ago. J. R. stands for Joao Romao.
Thomas, Doug
Famous American collector of Madeira wines. Thomas lived in Baltimore from1847 to 1919 and was president of the Merchants Bank. Being a well-known wine connoisseur, he celebrated six famous Madeira wine tastings over a 17-year period. His collection of old Madeira wines was one of the largest in the US.
Torre Bella
The Torre Bella estate, meaning beautiful tower in Portuguese, owned by the family of the Visconde de Torre Bella, featured many of the largest and most famous vineyards of the island. Since the 1970ies the estate has been divided into many small parts, no significant winegrowing is done here anymore. Also see Fairlie, Captain David.
Torreão Vinhos, Adegas do
Address: Rua dos Ferreiros 215, P-9001 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-221937. The building was closed in 1999 and seemed uninhabited. The company used to produce a wide variety of wines including vintages and -according to Liddell- was said to go back into trade in 1996. According to the latest information however the company went bankrupt.
Vasconcelos, Casa dos Vinhos (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1951, probably went out of trade in 1980.
Veiga França
Old address: Avenida Arriaga 73, P-9000 Funchal
The company closed a few years ago, due to financial problems. Some old bottles are still available. The brand was bought by Silva Vinhos, see there.
Voigt, L. R.
Former British importer for Leacock. Address was: 24-25 Great Tower Street, London E. C. 3.
Wagner, John
Former US importer in Ivyland, Pennsylvania for the MWC, bottled Madeira wine under his own label.
Walters, Henry
Famous American collection of Madeira wine in Baltimore. Auctioned off by the widow of the former owner in 1943.
Welsh Brothers (MWC)
Brand of the MWC, joined in 1934, went out of trade in 1980, but is still used in Japan.
Wile Sons. Julius & Co
Former US importer for Leacock. Address was: 2 Park Avenue, New York.
Wine Society Ltd., The
British company in Stevenage SG1, Gunnels Wood Road, founded in 1874, some old vintages bottled by the MWC, probably out of trade.
Wineshops In Funchal
Diogo's Wine and Spirits Shop
Address: Avenida Arriaga 48, P-9000-064 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-233357, Fax 00351-291-232893.
Garrafeira
Address: in the market hall of Funchal (Mercado dos Lavradores), shops Nr. 15 and 16, Tel: 00351-291-230479.
Garrafeira Wine Shop
Address: Rua Dr. Pita 1, P-900? Funchal, Tel 00351-291-7630101.
Loja dos Vinhos
Address: Shopping Center Eden Mar, Loja 19, Rua do Gorgulho, P-9000 Funchal, Tel 00351-291-762869, Fax 00351-291-761550.
Wine and Wicker
Another good shop, many people have told me about. I have not been in there, nor do I have an address