The beginning of the nineteenth century saw another revolution in the Madeira Wine industry. In 1800 Napoleon’s brother Joseph  occupied  the entire Iberian peninsula, hoping that by blockading the sea route to Madeira the French could strike a nasty blow against England’s prospering trade.
The wine stocks in Funchal grew visibly by the day, as did the general fears that all this precious liquid would go to waste. In desperation the tradesmen started to experiment with the stockpile, endeavouring to prolong the wine’s shelf life by blending it with spirits.