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Madeira Wine Harvest Festival 2025 – Folklore, Regional Food and Wine

North Madeira
Traditional Madeira dishes: carne de vinho e alhos, espetada, black scabbardfish, and tuna served at wine harvest lunch.
Decorated wine press (lagar) at Madeira Wine Harvest, showcasing traditional symbols and harvest celebration.
Basket filled with freshly picked Madeira grapes.
Traditional Madeiran buffet served in a garden with sea views during the Wine Harvest Tour.
Green Madeira vineyards on mountain slopes.
Coastal view of the northern cliffs and Atlantic Ocean.
Infinity pool filled with seawater overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Porto da Cruz, Madeira.
Promenade by the sea in Porto da Cruz with ocean views.
Visitors enjoying traditional grape stomping at the Madeira Wine Festival, part of the authentic harvest experience in Madeira festivals.
Visitors picking grapes in the vineyards, an immersive experience offered by festivals in Madeira and wineries in Madeira.
Vineyards and typical wine estate in north Madeira.
Visitors watching grape-harvest traditions at a village event, part of the wider festivals in Madeira calendar.
Madeira wine estate with terrace and palm trees.
Buffet lunch with regional dishes under red-and-white tablecloths, part of the Madeira Wine Festival hospitality.
Clifftop vineyard terrace with Atlantic view and infinity pool, a signature image of wineries in Madeira and the wine festival Madeira season.
Duration
6 Hours
Size
1-52
Difficulty
Leisurely

Key Benefits

  • Celebrate the Madeira Wine Harvest on a tour available only in September.
  • Enjoy a folklore show with traditional music and dance.
  • Savour a buffet lunch with Madeira’s most typical dishes, sides and desserts, with drinks included.
  • Take part in barefoot grape stomping, a centuries-old harvest tradition.
  • Taste 5-year-old Madeira wines outdoors in four styles: dry, medium dry, sweet, and medium sweet.
  • Two booking options: Lunch & Activities Only (ideal if you have a rental car) or Lunch, Activities & Transport (with hotel pick-up, drop-off and a seaside stop in Porto da Cruz).

Overview

Celebrate the authentic Madeira Wine Harvest Festival with a day filled with tradition, music, and flavour.

Your morning begins with a seaside stop in Porto da Cruz (for guests with the transport option), where you can stroll along the coastal promenade with views of the Atlantic and visit the historic Engenho do Norte rum distillery, a symbol of Madeira’s sugarcane heritage.

At the estate, the celebration starts with a refreshing “Madeira On Ice” apéritif and a live folklore show set against views of the vineyards, ocean, and mountains. A regional buffet then awaits, featuring Madeira’s most iconic dishes: beef espetada grilled on iron skewers over an open fire, black scabbardfish, fresh tuna, pork in wine and garlic, with sweet potato and milho frito (fried cornmeal). Desserts include passionfruit pudding, caramel pudding and fresh fruit salad, accompanied by drinks and coffee.

After lunch, the highlight of the day: barefoot grape stomping, a centuries-old harvest tradition brought to life with traditional music and dance. Participation is optional, but the festive atmosphere makes it unforgettable.

The celebration concludes with an outdoor tasting of 5-year-old Madeira wines in four styles: dry, medium-dry, sweet and medium-sweet.

Choose the option that suits you best: Lunch, Activities & Transport with hotel pick-up and drop-off in Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz, Machico and Porto da Cruz, or the more economical Lunch & Activities Only, ideal if you already have a rental car (GPS location sent the day before).

Included & Excluded

  • All taxes and handling fees — no hidden costs.
  • Welcome apéritif “Madeira On Ice”
  • Buffet lunch of regional dishes, sides, and desserts.
  • Drinks and coffee during lunch
  • Live folklore show with traditional music and dance.
  • Participation in barefoot grape stomping
  • Towels provided to clean your feet after the stomping.
  • Open-air tasting of 5-year-old Madeira wines in four styles: dry, medium dry, sweet, and medium sweet.
  • For the Lunch, Activities & Transport option:
    • Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz, Machico and Porto da Cruz (Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles).
    • Morning stop in Porto da Cruz with seaside walk and visit to Engenho do Norte rum distillery.
  • For the Lunch & Activities Only option:
    • Free parking is available at the venue (GPS location provided the day before)
  • Meals and drinks not listed in the inclusions.
  • For the Lunch & Activities Only option:
    • Transport to/from the estate (GPS location provided the day before).
    • Morning stop in Porto da Cruz and visit to Engenho do Norte rum distillery are not included in this option. However, you can still visit independently, as GPS directions will be provided.
  • For both options:
    Pick-up and drop-off outside Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz, Machico and Porto da Cruz (available on request, subject to availability and extra cost).

Additional Notes

For groups booking the Lunch, Activities & Transport option, prices are calculated per person and decrease as your group grows. Use the booking form to see the exact cost for your group.

 

Other Information

Quick FactsShedule & Details

Days available: This tour operates on Thursdays in September only
Duration: approximately 6 hours (10:30–16:00)
Languages: Portuguese, English, French
Requirement: punctuality is essential

Madeira Wine Harvest Day — Indicative Schedule:

10:30 – Hotel pick-up 
11:00 – Morning stop in Porto da Cruz
12:30 – Welcome aperitif “Madeira On Ice”
13:00 – Buffet lunch of regional dishes
14:00 – Grape barefoot stomping with Madeira folklore performance
14:45 – Madeira wine tasting “al fresco”
15:15 – Return journey to Funchal
16:00 – Hotel drop-off (same location as pick-up unless otherwise arranged)

What to BringDon't Forget

  • Comfortable walking shoes for the promenade and estate grounds
  • Light jacket or sweater if it gets cooler
  • Camera or smartphone to capture the celebrations
  • Towels are provided for cleaning your feet after the grape stomping; if you plan to participate, consider bringing a change of clothes

Good to KnowActivity Level

  • This is a relaxed, mostly seated outdoor experience, ideal for all fitness levels
  • Participation in grape stomping and folk activities is optional
  • Please advise of any dietary restrictions when booking

Why us?Our Expertise

We specialise in luxury Madeira tours that combine authentic local experiences with comfort and convenience. This Madeira wine harvest tour offers a rare opportunity to take part in a centuries-old tradition while enjoying the island’s culinary and cultural heritage in style.

Please NoteThe order of activities may change slightly depending on traffic, group pace or weather conditions.

Behind the TourWhat travellers say after they’ve done it

I booked this because I wanted to do something seasonal and different — and this was exactly that.

The first stop was Porto da Cruz. We had time to explore a bit, walk by the ocean and see the old sugar cane factory. Then we drove up to the vineyards for the harvest celebration.

The location was impressive — right above the cliffs, with a huge open view over the north coast. We were welcomed with a chilled Madeira on Ice, which really hit the spot. A live folklore group played traditional music while people arrived, and it set a good mood for the rest of the day.

Lunch was served outdoors around the vineyard, buffet-style. The highlight for me was the espetada — Madeira’s traditional grilled beef, cooked on iron skewers over an open fire — and the milho frito, crispy golden cubes of fried cornmeal. There were also salads, grilled vegetables and local bread. Everything was fresh, simple, and full of flavour. It felt like a proper celebration, not a staged event. People were relaxed, talking, getting seconds, and enjoying the wine freely.

After lunch, the stomping started. Everyone was invited to take part — barefoot of course. Some people just watched, others (like me) jumped in right away. It was fun, lighthearted, and something I’ll probably never get to do again.

We ended the day with a tasting of Madeira wines in the open air — relaxed, informal, and with incredible views of the ocean. Then it was straight back to Funchal.

What made this special was how authentic it felt. It wasn’t overly polished, but that’s why it worked. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in Madeira during harvest season — just bring sunblock, a change of clothes, and an open mind.

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From
45 €