First up, Blandy's - Madeira wine producers on the island since 1811 ... I met with Chris Blandy - 7th generation wine producer. Madeira has been producing wine since the late 1400's. First it was the usual "table wine" which due to the volcanic, acidic soil it would turn to vinegar quickly. By chance, in the 1700's, on a trip to India, the wine was mixed with brandy and on return the barrel was found to contain this "new" wine. It took off ...
There are several types of Maderia wine from dry to sweet. We tasted three wines ... the 1920 vintage ... yes ... 1920 ... was awesome!!!
From there we drove to Da Ponta do Sol - a quinta around 25 minutes drive from the Casa Branca. We had lunch overlooking the sea! Tim and James were "very naughty boys".
From there it was back to the Casa Branca where I made Laura and the wonderful hotel GM - Isabel Ferraz ... a poncha. This "cocktail" has two uses ... one to keep you warm and one to kill headcolds! It is made up of white rum (50% - strong), lemon & orange juice and honey. It's a KILLER! Only the heaviest boozer could have more than three ... it's THE drink here on the island!
Finally, I met with Americo Pereira - the top sommelier, vintner and wine-buff on the island. He took me through three Madeiran "table wines" ... which are having a resurgence at the moment. The wines are not bad ... they are not great ... one day soon, they will be good ...
This evening we all went to see Tintin at the local cinema. Erm - Snowy (Milou) was fabulous ... but ... erm ... the rest of it wasn't great ... I much prefer the comic books!
