Viticulture
From 2005 onwards, the island started to show a significant decrease in the production of white grape varieties in parallel with a growing demand for Madeira wine and Madeiran table wines. This slip in production was compounded by the combination of an ageing community of grape growers with the exodus of the younger population moving to the city.
Therefore, with an immediate need to guarantee minimum quantities to replenish stocks and reduce insecurities in viticulture, in 2007, the Madeira Wine Company created a viticulture team and began the journey of managing its own vineyards - the first being at Quinta de Santa Luzia, a property owned by Andrew Blandy.
Having initially planted Malvasia, Bual, Sercial and Terrantez, we have narrowed the varieties down to Bual (the heavyweight at this location), Verdelho and Terrantez, as these are the ones that yield the most.
During the symbolic year of 2011 when the Blandy group celebrated its 200 year anniversary, the company decided it was time for the creation of a specific entity that would be responsible for and focused on the growing activity of MWC’s own grape production.
The importance of continuity at strategic vineyards across the island where the growers were unable to guarantee management due to advanced age had become paramount. And so 7G was born - aptly named as it timed with the 7th generation of family members stepping up toward leadership at Blandy’s.
In 2013, 7G began operating at Quinta de São Jorge (also known as Quinta do Bispo) on the north coast of the island in the municipality of Santana, where it planted a vineyard of 4,2 hectares from scratch, with the following grape proportions; 70% Malvasia, 15% Sercial and 15% Verdelho.
Since then, the company's activity has been continuously growing, with a large presence mainly in the south-west of the island; in the parishes of Calheta, Fajã de Ovelha and Ponta do Pargo, as well as in the municipality of Santana.
Today the company manages 7 hectares of vineyards, and is subsequently helping to preserve and secure Madeira’s viticultural heritage whilst supporting the rural communities in their struggle to maintain their traditions and pass on their knowledge - treasured knowledge accumulated by generations of commitment to their family vineyard plots.
Quinta vineyards, North and South
Northside: Quinta de São Jorge
Quinta de São Jorge, owned by the Diocese, is located on the north of the island in the parish of São Jorge, neighboring Santana. This is an area celebrated for its diverse agriculture in which viticulture plays a strong role. MWC replanted the historic vineyard (altitude: 250m) in 2014 inside a property that once stretched from the top of the sea cliff up to the Laurissilva forest. The technique used to train the vines here is typical of northside plantations; the pergola or latada structure. Historically, the latada allowed space for horticulture in the soil underneath, but this technique is still favored over the trellis as it promotes better air circulation, which is key in the humid climate of the North. We cultivate 3 white varietals here: Malvasia de São Jorge, Verdelho and Sercial, on 4.2 hectares of steep meandering terraces. We run a small flock of sheep and a tribe of ducks through these vines - a natural way of improving soil health and keeping the rows clean of vegetation.
Southside: Quinta de Santa Luzia
Quinta Santa Luzia is a traditional working quinta of 3.5 hectares close to the centre of Funchal. Bought in 1826 by John Blandy (founder of the company) and expanded over the years, the land has always been cultivated, and in 2004 Andrew Blandy replaced the existing banana plantation with white grape varietals in espaldeira (trellis) form. Today, the 12 terraces of vineyard represent 0.93 hectares of cultivated surface area; the dominant varietal being the Bual, followed by the Verdelho and lastly the rarer Terrantez. 2 of these plots are dedicated to organic production, as one of the primary goals of 7G will always be to reduce the use of chemicals on the land.
