1988 Madeira Blandy's Malmsey Vintage Fortificado

Description

For two centuries, Blandy's Madeira has been synonymous with quality Madeiran wine. Blandy is the only family among all the founders of the Madeira trade that still owns and runs its original Madeira wine company. The family has played a pivotal role in the development of Madeiran wine, with its members still living on the island and upholding a tradition that dates back to 1811. The Madeira Wine Company originally began as an association of several Madeiran wine producers who joined forces in 1913 to strengthen their purchasing and production capabilities. During periods of discord, the family firms Blandy's and Leacock merged, followed soon by a dispute over Miles and Cossart Gordon, creating the largest producer and exporter of Madeira wine. Whatever the size, preserving each company's unique character and style remained central to the association’s focus. By the late 1970s, the company’s interests had been reduced to a handful of founding families, with the Blandys holding the controlling stake. In 1989, needing to bolster sales and marketing, the Blandys invited the Symington family from Porto, Portugal, to partner with them—a partnership that continues today, enabling the Madeira Wine Company to lead the development of the Madeiran wine trade. The bottling year may not match the image shown (image only illustrative).