On the rugged volcanic slopes of Madeira, where vineyards cling to sheer terraces and ocean winds temper the heat, Henriques & Henriques has shaped the island’s winemaking legacy for over 170 years. Founded in 1850 by João Gonçalves Henriques, the estate stands as one of Madeira’s oldest and most enduring producers—rooted in tradition, yet quietly progressive in its pursuit of excellence.

Unlike many houses on the island, Henriques & Henriques owns and farms its own vineyards. The 10-hectare estate at Quinta Grande, the largest single vineyard on Madeira, is central to this philosophy. Here, noble varieties—Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia, and the rare Terrantez—are cultivated with rigorous attention to site and soil. Tinta Negra, often overlooked, is treated with equal care, culminating in one of the island’s few 50-year-old expressions of the grape.

The winery’s range reflects the full stylistic breadth of Madeira. From vibrant, bone-dry Sercial to the lush, honeyed tones of Malvasia, each wine is marked by a thread of balancing acidity—a hallmark of the region. Their age-indicated bottlings, from 10 to 50 years, are crafted entirely from the named variety, often exceeding the minimum aging requirements. Vintage and solera wines, especially those aged under the traditional Canteiro method, showcase extraordinary depth and longevity.

Aging is central to Madeira’s identity, and Henriques & Henriques honors this with discipline and grace. The Canteiro system, involving slow maturation in oak casks warmed by natural heat, is used for the estate’s finest wines. More youthful expressions may employ the Estufa method, carefully managed to preserve freshness and expression. Together, these approaches allow the estate to create a portfolio both rooted in tradition and responsive to modern palates.

Modernization came in the early 1990s with the construction of a new aging cellar in Câmara de Lobos and a vinification facility at Quinta Grande. These advances brought greater precision and consistency, without disrupting the estate’s essential character. Under the leadership of Humberto Jardim, Henriques & Henriques continues to evolve while maintaining fidelity to its origins.

Henriques & Henriques is a cornerstone of Madeira’s wine culture—quietly powerful, exacting in detail, and unshakably committed to quality. Its wines carry the timeless intensity of the island itself: sun, sea, and stone distilled into liquid legacy.