10 Years Old Verdelho is made 100% from Verdelho grapes, which many believe originates from Madeira, where it has been cultivated since the 15th century. The grapes for this wine are sourced from no less than 26 growers from the 5 most important wine regions on the island : North in Porto Moniz, Santana and São Vincente and south in Calheta and Funchal. Typically, Verdelho gives a must with less sugar and more acidity and is therefore used for Madeira wines in the medium-dry category.
After a skin maceration and a classic fermentation in a tank (approx. 4 days) with the grapes’ own yeast cells, the wine is added to brandy and matured in American wooden barrels, initially in the upper rooms in the attic of the winery in Funchal according to the “Canteiro technique”. During the 10 years of maturation, the wine is moved to cooler rooms in the middle of the house and finally to living rooms, which are even cooler. Bottling takes place after a natural sedimentation and final blending, where fruit concentration and harmony are prioritized, and where the average age is 10 years.
The long and attentive maturation has given this semi-dry Madeira an unusual depth and complexity. In the scent you will find both exotic tones of wood, hazelnuts and fresh, crisp and deep shades of tropical fruits. In the taste, the wine reveals a perfect harmony between acidity, structure and fruity sweetness. It ends with slightly smoky tones and delicious, fresh nuances of, among other things, passion fruit. Served as an aperitif (slightly chilled) or with soups, oysters and Asian dishes with fish or chicken.
Although it is the famous Madeira Wine Company – one of the most important producers in Madeira – that markets and distributes Blandy’s Madeira, it is still the Blandy’s family that owns the winery and vineyards and makes the wines. Seven generations of the same family have succeeded each other since 1811, and today the company is the only producer on Madeira that is still owned by a single family, who, of course, live on the island! The winery has played a decisive role in the production of Madeira over the years, both for the cultivation tradition and the typical production techniques used on the island.
Blandy’s Madeira owns vineyards in several places on the island, including in São Jorge (150-200 m.a.s.l.), São Vicente (north coast, 300-400 m.a.s.l.), Porto Moniz (north), Seixal (north) and Câmara de Lobos (south coast) (up to 500 m.a.s.l.). In addition, the winery has long-term agreements for the supply of grapes with 26 different small growers in most wine regions. The grapes are vinified at the company’s wine estate north of the capital Funchal and are then matured both on the property and in Blandy’s famous cellars in the center of the city. Each type of Madeira is given an adapted number of years in barrel and the wines are only bottled when they are optimally developed. They are ready to serve after bottling and therefore need no further storage in the bottle.
