Madeira Wine: The beginnings and plantings of madeira wine

The positive effects of the blockade

The English Blockade had a positive effect on Madeira, which became extremely popular in America. By 1799, the wines were so much in demand, a fleet of nearly 100 English ships had anchored in the Bay of Funchal to fill their holds with the island wines. In 1695 William Bolton exported Madeira wine to America and the East and West Indies in his own ship.
Dated from 1695 to 1714, Bolton's letters, were published by Andre‚ Simon, London, 1928, and they tell the dramatic story. History reveals that as the English had completely dominated the American imports, it was unfair to the wine-growers in Europe, and created ill feelings with the colonists in America who paid high prices for wines while defending their homeland. America's only recourse was to receive more Madeira in quantity and reduce the price.


Knowing this potential, many English merchants saw the opportunity to expand the wine trade on the island and took up residence to open firms. They convinced the islanders to plant more vines and by the end of the 17th century, and during the entire 18th century, Madeira wine was paying off with regular and impressive shipments to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and to the elegant southern city, Savannah. All of America was drinking Madeira wine, storing it away for the future, and discovering its keeping qualities. The English merchants who came to Madeira to set up wine lodges were benefiting from the precedent of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance that welcomed them to Portuguese territories.