The Blandy Group: A Living Legacy
The Blandy family holds the distinction of being the sole founding dynasty of the Madeira wine trade to maintain continuous ownership and executive management of its original enterprise. The Group’s longevity is rooted in a legacy of strategic resilience; by executing counter-cyclical acquisitions during agricultural crises and leading industry consolidations during market downturns, the family ensured the brand’s survival while many of its contemporaries dissolved.
Presented below is a chronological account of the landmark events that define the history of the Blandy Group. This overview highlights the family’s enduring influence on Madeira’s economy and the strategic decisions that have secured the company’s resilience across two centuries
1776 – 1899: Foundations of Shipping & Wine
- 1776| The American Declaration of Independence is toasted with Madeira Wine
- 1783 | John Blandy is born
- 1808 | The Arrival: John Blandy arrives in Madeira, initially seeking "employment in a Counting House" for health reasons, carrying a letter of introduction dated December 1807.
- 1811 | The Beginning of Blandy’s Madeira: John, alongside his brothers Thomas and George, establishes his own business as a wine shipper and general trader. The company quickly expands, exporting to Russia, Northern Europe, the Antilles, and North America.
During this formative era, the firm acted as a critical maritime intermediary—managing vessel business, receiving imported cargo, and facilitating the export of premium Madeira wine. This dual role in trade and logistics formed the bedrock of the Group’s shipping enterprise.
In the 19th century, prominent wine firms and shipping agencies were distinguished by their unique house flags. The Blandy Group adopted the International T Flag, a symbol that continues to fly above the Head Office in Funchal today, representing over two centuries of maritime authority and continuity. - 1824 | Establishing the Wine Lodge: After nearly 20 years of tenacity in acquiring small property holdings, John Blandy consolidates the site in Funchal that is known today as Blandy’s Wine Lodge.
- 1838 | The London Branch of Blandy's is opened.
- 1851 | The first Vine plague - Odium Tuckeri - reaches Madeira.
- 1852 | The Oidium Plague: During a disastrous fungal plague that threatened the island’s vineyards, Charles Blandy shows immense foresight by buying up massive stocks of old wine, safeguarding the company’s ability to continue trading while others faltered.
- The Age of Coal (1850s–1878): The Group diversifies into bunkering services for steamships, leading to their appointment as Lloyd’s Agents in 1878.
- Infrastructure & Expansion (1880s): The family installs Funchal’s first piped water systems.
- 1855 | John Blandy dies.
- 1862 | The Shipping Agency (Madeira) is formed.
- 1872 | Phylloxera, the second vine plague is identified in Madeira.
- 1878 | Blandy's (Madeira) is appointed Lloyd's Agent.
- 1886 | John Burden Blandy opens a branch of Blandy's in the Canary Islands.
- 1896 | Blandy's aquires the Diário de Notícias (Newspaper in Madeira).
1900 – 1999: Revolution, Banking, and Global Change
- 1906 | Blandy's in the Canary Islands is appointed Lloyd's Agent
- 1913 | The Madeira Wine Association is formed
- 1923 | Blandy Brothers (Banqueiros), Lda - Blandy's bank - established
- 1925 | The Madeira Wine Association: To combat an all-time low in the export market, Blandy’s joins a group of wine companies (formed in 1913) to maximize global exposure and reduce overheads.
- The Tourist Foundation (1937–1949): The Group acquires Reid’s Hotel in 1937, which later hosts Sir Winston Churchill in 1949.
- 1942 | Revolta da Farinha (Flour Uprising) in Madeira, Companhia Insular de Moinhos (flour mill) is established
- 1946 | Blandy's open Lisbon Office
- Banking & Industry (1960s): Blandy’s Bank provides essential infrastructure before its sale in 1966.
- The 1974 Revolution: Despite the nationalization of many Portuguese banks and the closure of the Madeira Electronics Company, the family remains on the island, modernizing the Diário de Notícias Madeira.
- Late 1970s | Leadership: The Blandy family takes the lead of the Madeira Wine Association, which evolves into the Madeira Wine Company.
- 1986 | The Madeira Wine Company is formed
- 1989 | Partnership with Symington: Seeking to expand their global reach, the Blandys partner with the Symington family (Port producers from Oporto), combining the expertise of two major Anglo-Portuguese wine dynasties.
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1994:
- Lusomundo invest in Diário de Notícias da Madeira
- The Cliff Bay Hotel opens.
- 1996 | Reid's Hotel sold to the Orient Express group
- 1997 | Radio TSF Madeira is launched in Madeira
- 1998 | Gallerias São Lourenço, a shopping centre in Funchal opens
- 1999 | Arcadas de São Francisco, a shopping centre in Funchal opens
2000 – Present:International Expansion & Modern Mastery
- 2000:
- The PortoBay Group expanded its hospitality footprint with the opening of Porto Santa Maria.
- C & N/ Thomas Cook invest in Porto Bay Hotels.
- 2001: Diário de Notícias da Madeira invests in Venezuelan bi-monthly the 'Correio de Caracas'.
- 2003: Continued growth of the PortoBay portfolio with the launch of Porto Mare.
- 2005:
- Madeira Story Centre Opens.
- 'Inspira' Hotel concept launched.
- 2006 – 2008: Francisco Albuquerque awarded Fortified Winemaker of the Year by the International Wine Challenge for three consecutive years.
- 2007:
- After 130 years of existence the Diário de Notícias undergoes rebranding with new layout as well as launching its online news portal.
- The PortoBay group brand expanded into Brazil with acquisitions in Rio de Janeiro (2007) and São Paulo (2009).
- 2008: Porto Bay Group inaugurates the Porto Bay Falésia Hotel in Olhos d’Água near Albufeira in the Algarve.
- 2008 Michelin Distinction: Il Gallo d’Oro at the Cliff Bay Hotel was awarded a Michelin star—still the only restaurant in Madeira to hold this honor.
- 2009: Porto Bay inaugurates the five star Porto Bay L'Hotel São Paulo.
- 2009 – 2010: 'Madeira Wine Company' named Portuguese Wine Producer of the Year by the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
- 2010: Inspira inaugurates the new Inspira Santa Marta Hotel in Lisbon.
- 2011 - The Wine Renaissance: A landmark year where the Blandy family regained majority shareholding of the Madeira Wine Company. For the first time in generations, 7th generation Chris Blandy took the helm, positioning wine as a core managed contributor to the Group.
- 2014:
- 'Madeira Wine Company' achieved Portuguese Wine Producer of the Year (International Wine and Spirit Competition).
- 'Madeira Wine Company' named Winemaker of the Year by WINE-Essência do Vinho.
- Strategic relocation of the main winery from Funchal to Caniçal.
- 2015:
- 'Madeira Wine Company' awarded Portuguese Wine Producer of the Year by the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
- 2015 Lisbon Debut: Saw the opening of PortoBay Liberdade, bringing the group's capacity to 2,900 beds across four distinct regions.
- 2016:
- 'Madeira Wine Company' selected as one of the Top 100 Wineries by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
- Major renovation of Blandy's Wine Lodge, including the opening of the 1811 Bistro & Wine Bar.
- 2017 – 2018: 'Madeira Wine Company' recognized as a Top 100 Winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
- 2018: Product expansion with the launch of the first Atlantis Reserva Branco 2017.
- 2020: 'Madeira Wine Company' recognized as a Top 100 Winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
- 2021:
- 'Madeira Wine Company' named a Top 100 Winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
- Launch of the first Atlantis Tinto 2020.
- 2022:
- 'Madeira Wine Company' named Fortified Winery of the Year by Revista dos Vinhos.
- Achieved B Corp Certification with an initial B Impact Score of 82.9.
- 2023:
- 'Madeira Wine Company' recognized as a Top 100 Winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
- Catia Esteves appointed as CEO of Blandy Travel & Shipping Agency
- 2025: The Blandy Group sells the remainder of its shares in the Empresa Diario de Noticias.
- 2026:
- 'Madeira Wine Company' successfully B Corp Recertified with a significantly improved B Impact Score of 97.2.
- Carlos Filipe Fernandes appointed as CEO of the 'Madeira Wine Company'.
