The Oïdium Tuckerii found the Madeira vignerons quite unprepared, and practically the whole of the grapes were destroyed at a fell swoop.

After this vicious attack the local farmers in fright decided to plant sugarcane and maize or beans instead. They did not try to replant the vines. Only a limited few replanted with commoner and sturdier vine-stocks, but fate dealt another blow when even even these “sturdier” vines were in turn destroyed by the Phylloxera Vastarix in 1873. The Vastarix was a form of bug that was horrifically ugly and astoundingly prolific that acted on attaching itself to the roots of vines with devastating passion. These subterranean bugs were also the grave for many an ardent vine grower that kept faith after the last vine disease.

Two such terrible visitations within less than a quarter than a century may have put an end to the making of Madeira wines, had it not been for the devoted courage, foresight, and pure pigheadedness of some of the English merchants in Madeira, and more particularly Thomas Leacock and Charles Blandy. Their names are now part of the noble wine lables in Madeira wine history. Other well known and equally deserved reputations include the excellent house of Barbeitos, known as Vinhos Barbeito (Madeira), LDA.
Mário Barbeito de Vasconcelos was passionate about Madeira wine and Madeira history. His personal collection of Madeira miscellany dated back to the earliest times of Maderian colonization. He devoted much to the research and profoundation of wine, and Christopher Columbus.

The largest wine producer, undoubtedly today, is Henriques & Henriques. This company is enjoying immense success with winning quite a few awards and first or Gold awards at many Wine Fairs and Events.

No less noble or credible are the other wine producers, each with their own rich history and credits to score.