Blandy's Wine Lodge
Blandy's Wine Lodge
4.5
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
About
Located in a historical building in the very center of Funchal, Blandy's Wine Lodge has been the heart of the family's wine business for 7 generations, ageing the finest Madeira wines in a traditional canteiro method. Each room in the Lodge has unique wine ageing potential due to the different temperatures and humidity conditions, resulting in the diverse profiles of wines aged inside the building. We invite you to join us on our tours, wine tastings and events! Learn more about Madeira wine, history of the Blandy Family, witness canteiro wine ageing and enjoy one of the many wine tasting options we offer.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- Victoria STelford, United Kingdom387 contributionsExcellent for the priceWe've visited Blandy's twice now, once in 2018 and again in 2023. Both times we found it informative and good value for money. This time we were all given headphones to better hear the tour guide, which particularly helped when we had to stay back from the group due to having our one year old with us. (It's fine to take kids, she enjoyed looking around and they have baby change facilities). The shop is still great value both for Madeira wine and other wine - we got a bottle of lovely rose for about £6! We just turned up on a Friday morning to get onto the 10.30am tour, and they just managed to squeeze us in - but I'd recommend booking if you can. Definitely worth the 12 euro fee.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 3, 2023
- RMP1960gLondon, United Kingdom326 contributionsHistoric and uniquieInteresting. Apart from the tour, there are 2 different tasting rooms. In the first, you can experience the cheaper 3 and 5 year old Maderia styles, and in the second 10 year old wines. Both were great fun. Try it if you are new to Madeira wine.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 20, 2023
- DitsydodoKent, United Kingdom60 contributionsDefinitely worth a visit.We booked onto the lodge tour which lasted 30 minutes and included the tasting of two Madeira wines. Well worth a visit. Very knowledgable tour guide - Alexandra. English spoken and easy to understand (I am hard of hearing - so this was a huge thing for me to have this). Beautiful place and the wine is delicious. Plus an added bonus any wine purchased can be collected at the airport after security to carry on as hand luggage!Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 23, 2023
- Morag TScotland, United Kingdom59 contributionsWine and a chatDid the tour with a lovely guide called Alexandra, she made the tour interesting from start to finish with lots of facts and answering any questions with ease. She also explained that different wines can be used for a appertif or a digestive with your meal .This is well worth a visit. You get to taste two different Madeira Wines and if flying with only hand luggage can order and pay for wine in the shop and they will get it to the airport to be collected after security.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 29, 2023
- ClareS198166 contributionsGreat place!We had considered going on a proper wine tasting tour but having done many before and with a 2 year old, we opted to do a tasting in their bar on a couple of afternoons instead. Far more reasonable prices and even their glasses of wine are good value if you don't do a tasting. My 2 year old was happy with a cheese platter while we had our drinks and they even gave her some crayons and a little book. Lovely friendly staff and on our last day we ordered a bottle of wine to collect at the airport to save hassle.Visited June 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 2, 2023
- marminLincoln, United Kingdom342 contributionsEnjoyableWe did the Lodge tour today and enjoyed it. The guide did a good job, spoke good English and shared her passion for the Madeira wines they produced. It’s fairly short, includes tasting of 2 very different wines at the end and is worth a visit.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 2, 2023
- amvAberdeenAberdeen, United Kingdom236 contributionsMarvellous afternoonWhat an Aladdin’s cave of Madeira wine! Amazing building with barrels and history round every corner. We did the premium and vintage tours back to back as a package. I mucked up the booking big style and the staff were all hugely helpful and accommodating. Learned so much on both tours and the tasting at the end was the icing on the cake (so to speak!).Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 24, 2023
- kathyinsurrey117 contributionsA "Must Do" and a PleasureThis is a "must do" when in Funchal. Apart from providing a fascinating insight into the production and history of madeira (the drink) it also highlights the achievements of one family whose ancestor ventured out to Madeira from a tiny Dorset village at the beginning of the 19th century to seek his fortune. The museum, which forms part of the tour (briefly) but to which you can return later (and I recommend you do) gives an outline of this family's association with the island and their interests extend way beyond producing madeira. Our guide on the tour spoke excellent English and you get to see the cooperage and the barrel storage and ageing process, as well as the museum, before tasting a couple of the different madeiras. An excellent way to spend a wet morning (which it was) but, of course, when it is wet it is busy. We took advantage of the discount available to those on the tour to buy some madeira to take home - a very efficient arrangement of picking it up airside at the airport on departure - which means it can go in hand luggage (hope it works!). We visited the onsite restaurant on a different (and sunny day) and have reviewed this separately.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 8, 2024
- fionamatonNewbury, United Kingdom11 contributionsWhat’s not to enjoyJust a very pleasant way to spend time. Pacey and informative tour, atmospheric place and all very well done. Next to a v lovely green jardin with a nice cafe if you arrive a bit early.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 14, 2024
- nsander219Chelmsford, United Kingdom654 contributionsEnjoyable Short TourProbably one of the must see's in Funchal. Very easy to book on their website. A 45 minute walk throught the history and making of their drink is well put together. A Premium Tour gets you two samples to taste plusd your ticket gets you 10% off with airport delivery. We enjoyed it.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 5, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,581 reviews
Excellent
1,668
Very good
1,367
Average
397
Poor
96
Terrible
53
Patroni2013
Lincolnshire, UK170 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Very informative with good guides to take you through the manufacturing process. We booked the 14.30 tour which was far too rushed and not enough time to see the great little museum, it would have been better to go for 10.30.
The price at €9.50 is not particularly good value for what you can see certainly during the 14.30 tour we did. Shame
The price at €9.50 is not particularly good value for what you can see certainly during the 14.30 tour we did. Shame
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bwyd
Jersey, UK255 contributions
Oct 2021
We undertook both the "Premium" and "Vintage" tours on a back to back basis. We found the "Vintage Tour" much more interesting and would recommend it if you only have time for one tour.
It gave us a much better understanding of the processes they follow, with the added bonus of being able to inspect closely the family's collection of vintage wine.
On the "Premium Tour" we were left by the guide, near the end, to look around a small museum. Much of what was displayed in the museum was covered in the booklet they had already given us when booking and which we had read before the tour.
Finally I must say we were disappointed with the service we received when booking. We had a query on the booking process for two tours and rang them 2 or 3 times. We couldn't get through and therefore emailed them 2 or 3 times. On the final occasion copying in their marketing team in the hope that they would pass our email on. Blandy's never responded, which we thought was very poor.
It gave us a much better understanding of the processes they follow, with the added bonus of being able to inspect closely the family's collection of vintage wine.
On the "Premium Tour" we were left by the guide, near the end, to look around a small museum. Much of what was displayed in the museum was covered in the booklet they had already given us when booking and which we had read before the tour.
Finally I must say we were disappointed with the service we received when booking. We had a query on the booking process for two tours and rang them 2 or 3 times. We couldn't get through and therefore emailed them 2 or 3 times. On the final occasion copying in their marketing team in the hope that they would pass our email on. Blandy's never responded, which we thought was very poor.
Written October 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andythebaggie
Birmingham, UK3,286 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
This was a must visit for me, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s an easy place to find on the main road right in the centre of Funchal town. We went on the 45 minute English speaking tour. Our tour guide was relatively new, and spoke perfect English. It was fascinating to see the huge barrels where the wine matures, as our guide talked about the production and varieties of Madeira Wine. Then there is a small walk through museum about the Blandy family and their business before the main event, the tasting. Two different wines sampled, both of very good quality, not just 3 year old wine. You get a 10% discount in the shop too where there is a wide range of produce and merch available.
Written September 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
taliward
Warwick, UK2,196 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We booked the tickets in the morning at 10am for the first tour at 10:30am. We had to wear masks for the entire tour which is a normal thing nowadays but it isn't the most comfortable. However don't let this put you off. The total tour and tasting took about an hour and a half. At the end you will receive two tastings and then you have the option to buy more from the bar. There is a well stocked shop at the end and the staff are all lovely. The good thing is that you can buy things here and pick them up at the airport. A really informative tour and we learned lots about this very entrepreneurial family and how Madeira wine is made. I think we all want to come back next September when they have the Madeira wine festival!! A must when in Madeira.
Written November 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MyHomeIsMyself
London, UK39 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Did the premium tour, which includes ten minutes in the museum detailing the life and accomplishments of the Blandys (interesting but left us with more questions). The tour guide did her best and was engaging, however the 'tasting' was a joke. Two random samples with absolutely no information about their characteristics; felt a bit pointless and we wondered why we'd bothered.
Not worth the money.
Not worth the money.
Written October 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kathyinsurrey
surrey117 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
This is a "must do" when in Funchal. Apart from providing a fascinating insight into the production and history of madeira (the drink) it also highlights the achievements of one family whose ancestor ventured out to Madeira from a tiny Dorset village at the beginning of the 19th century to seek his fortune. The museum, which forms part of the tour (briefly) but to which you can return later (and I recommend you do) gives an outline of this family's association with the island and their interests extend way beyond producing madeira. Our guide on the tour spoke excellent English and you get to see the cooperage and the barrel storage and ageing process, as well as the museum, before tasting a couple of the different madeiras. An excellent way to spend a wet morning (which it was) but, of course, when it is wet it is busy. We took advantage of the discount available to those on the tour to buy some madeira to take home - a very efficient arrangement of picking it up airside at the airport on departure - which means it can go in hand luggage (hope it works!). We visited the onsite restaurant on a different (and sunny day) and have reviewed this separately.
Written February 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arden24
Market Harborough, UK629 contributions
Mar 2022
We booked the premium tour followed by the vintage tour. It is not advisable just to do the vintage tour as a stand alone as you won't know the wine making process which is covered in the premium tour. The building is very old with lots of stairs therefore this trip would not be suitable for people with mobility issues. Do feel free to take photos. Knowledgeable and friendly guide. As we did the 2 tours back to back we tasted 4 wines accompanied by plain crackers and a piece of 'fruit' cake.
Written March 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AvidTraveler12
Winchester, UK1,833 contributions
Feb 2023
Located in the centre of Funchal is Blandy's Wine lodge. Blandy's are the biggest producer of Madeira (a fortified wine) on the island of Madeira which is the only place in the world that it is produced.
Blandy's was created in 1811 by John Blandy, it remains a family business with I believe the 7th generation Blandy running the business.
There is a variety of tours you can take, I strongly recommend that you book ahead of time online because the tours are normally fully booked. The tours take you through the history and production of "Madeira" wine" and is followed by a tasting. There is a shop where you can buy Madeira, the older the vintage the more expensive the bottle.
The tour guides & support staff we encountered were very friendly & only to happy to answer questions.
Blandy's was created in 1811 by John Blandy, it remains a family business with I believe the 7th generation Blandy running the business.
There is a variety of tours you can take, I strongly recommend that you book ahead of time online because the tours are normally fully booked. The tours take you through the history and production of "Madeira" wine" and is followed by a tasting. There is a shop where you can buy Madeira, the older the vintage the more expensive the bottle.
The tour guides & support staff we encountered were very friendly & only to happy to answer questions.
Written February 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rambler
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK887 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
We’ve all heard of ‘Madeira Wine’ but may not have tasted it or understood why it is distinct from sherries and ports. If you want to satisfy that curiosity then Blandy’s your will do the trick.
It is situated right on the Main Street in Funchal’s old town and shopping area. It couldn’t be handier. When we visited, it didn’t seem possible to book online so we went to the ticket office a couple of hours before. Tours are at different price points and in various languages throughout the day. We took the cheapest in English and it was fine.
You get a guided tour through the old building explaining the process and a tasting of the two main varieties of wine at the end. It was enough for us and a great break in our exploration of the town. Recommended! (I only knocked a star off because I couldn’t pre-book)
It is situated right on the Main Street in Funchal’s old town and shopping area. It couldn’t be handier. When we visited, it didn’t seem possible to book online so we went to the ticket office a couple of hours before. Tours are at different price points and in various languages throughout the day. We took the cheapest in English and it was fine.
You get a guided tour through the old building explaining the process and a tasting of the two main varieties of wine at the end. It was enough for us and a great break in our exploration of the town. Recommended! (I only knocked a star off because I couldn’t pre-book)
Written April 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria S
Telford, UK387 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
We've visited Blandy's twice now, once in 2018 and again in 2023. Both times we found it informative and good value for money.
This time we were all given headphones to better hear the tour guide, which particularly helped when we had to stay back from the group due to having our one year old with us. (It's fine to take kids, she enjoyed looking around and they have baby change facilities).
The shop is still great value both for Madeira wine and other wine - we got a bottle of lovely rose for about £6!
We just turned up on a Friday morning to get onto the 10.30am tour, and they just managed to squeeze us in - but I'd recommend booking if you can.
Definitely worth the 12 euro fee.
This time we were all given headphones to better hear the tour guide, which particularly helped when we had to stay back from the group due to having our one year old with us. (It's fine to take kids, she enjoyed looking around and they have baby change facilities).
The shop is still great value both for Madeira wine and other wine - we got a bottle of lovely rose for about £6!
We just turned up on a Friday morning to get onto the 10.30am tour, and they just managed to squeeze us in - but I'd recommend booking if you can.
Definitely worth the 12 euro fee.
Written October 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long is the tours? How often does it run?
Written December 30, 2019
Less than an hour but worth the visit
Written December 31, 2019
Search for the place you want to review and scroll down to where the reviews are. It should then give you the option to “write a review”. It used to be much clearer on the old website and app but since the updates it is not as obvious. Good luck!
Written April 24, 2019
Do you have to book a tour of the Wine Lodge, how often do they run
Written April 14, 2018
4 tours per day and worth booking in advance to make sure aplaces are available
Written April 15, 2018
Hello
My partner is 60 in November this year. Can I buy 1957 Madeira? It was still in barrels when we visited in February this year.
Maggie
Written August 28, 2017
I know some maceira wines are not available I was looking for 1948 and they had not for sell and they told me only collectors will have xx
Written September 21, 2019
Has anyone rented one of the apartments associated with Blandys? I'm having trouble locating written reviews of the apartments apart from the wine tours. Thanks!
Written March 14, 2017
Just spent 4 days in one of the apartments. They are great, very well furnished, lots of space, no noise from surrounding areas. You will see lots of reviews on booking, not on tripadvisor
Written March 20, 2017
Do you have to pay for Blandy's wine tour?
Written June 19, 2016
Yes the tour is really a wine tasting but the big advantage is to buy your wine on the tour and you pick it up at the Airport and save on the airport price!!
Written June 30, 2016
Ho una bottiglia di vino piuttosto vecchia non so valutarne l'età né. Il valore. Dove posso inviare una foto per una valutazione? Grazie Maria
Written July 5, 2015
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