There are no longer plots of land set aside for massive vineyards, as can be seen on the continent. The small vineyards are the heart of Madeira wine.
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| The vines grow off the ground at a height approximately that of a human being. Beneath the vines and trellises the farmers plant their domestic vegetables. |
Most vineyards are on the south and north of the island, the smallest quantity on the eastern end. Usually the vines hang off trellises with lattice cross-pieces for the vines to rest on at heights of six feet. Moreover, a protective fencing of dry twigs and shrubs is walled around the more windswept vines. The soil under the vines serves for planting more domestic plants such as cabbage, potatoes, beans and such; reflecting a natural ecological sense for land utilization.
