Initiation tasting about my Madeira passion...

[goncalo devesas]

I´m going to visit Madeira in May, I´ll ask here visiting advises, because I know that there are lots of people in that had visited Madeira before (Madeira cellars, restaurants and nice places too), Roy introduced me in the Madeira passion, and with a great Verdelho Reserva from 1912

I´m quite anxious to see how things are going in Madeira, after the natural catastrophe, and sadly lots of people were wounded (more than 100 people) and dead also (42 confirmed and 8 persons have been missing since than) , now the Country is 100% united to help the Atlantic ocean pearl (I saw already that are people in the concerned with this terrible natural catastrophe and with a huge willpower to help ...

Yesterday the President from Madeira´s Regional Government said that: "in two months Madeira will be more beautiful than in the past ! "

Normally February is a gladness month, because of carnival, but unfortunately it didn´t over as we all expected.

I´m very glad seeing that after one week, the main avenues and streets in Funchal are now in a quick renewing process, lots of help from banks, solidarity concerts, solidarity accounts... I´m very happy with that !

And we all need to help with our visit to Madeira... beautiful landscapes, friendly people, good food and Madeira too !

I will rent a car during the 7 days to explore the most I can.

If some of you want to help me as a trip advisor, it will be much apreciated...

[Roy Hersh]

Please have a look on the homepage Goncalo and you shall find articles on Madeira in the archive page with past trip reports and more information about Madeira. Also visit: www.madeirawineguide.com for great information. Should you need specific recommendations you know where to find me.

I hope you saw in the newsletter that just came out that I put in a short article alerting people to the relief effort, and a solid place where they could make charitable donations for the relief effort. Let's hope that in time, maybe even before you get there, that things will pretty much be back to normal.

[goncalo devesas]

Thanks Roy, I´ll print it as my guide book... I saw that you mencioned it also in the newsletter and hope taste nice Madeira´s like those that you mencioned in the 2007 Great Seattle Madeira tasting .

In Portugal the most reliable handout Institution to help Madeira is the Caritas, that you have already informed to the community in another topic .

[goncalo devesas]

My first Madeira tasting:

Blandy´s Cercial 5 YEARS OLD
Blandy´s Cercial 10 YEARS OLD
Blandy´s Cercial Colheita 2001
Blandy´s Malvasia 15 YEARS OLD
Blandy´s Bual 1980
Blandy´s Bual 1964

I have now a contact for my visit to Madeira, I met Ricardo Tavares (Senior Sales Manager) and I´ll give him a call to arrange a visit to the vineyards also

[David Spriggs]

Very Nice! I have been to Madeira - it's amazing! You will love it!

You are lucky to visit the vineyards. We visited, but never got a formal tour of any vineyards. The vineyards there are unlike anything I have ever seen before.... sort of like the Vinho Verde vineyards, but what an amazing setting!
-Dave-