The Wine
Considering the extreme importance of Madeira Wine to the region, the Madeira Wine Institute was created in 1979 with the primary mission of ensuring the convenient discipline of production and commercialisation of Madeira Wine and coordinating viticulture activities in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
The Serviços de Fomento Vinícola where the registration of fermentation, distillation, rectification, preparation and storage facilities are implemented and where wine samples are taken for analysis and seals of guarantee and certificates of origin are issued carries out the supervision and control of the production and commercialisation of wines.
The institute has created a new operational service, of equal importance: the Wine Laboratory, which is to carry out the laboratory tests on wines and the analyses required for the bulletins for their certification.
Besides the chemical analysis of the wines, the Institute was concerned from the beginning with having a Tasting Panel, which carries out the sensorial analysis of the wines and, through its binding opinion, assures their quality and genuineness.
The Embroidery
The IVBAM handles the verification of the quality of all the pieces of Madeira Embroidery, after the meticulous control of the perfection and authenticity of the work, where it is attributed the stamp of guarantee, which assures the quality and truthfulness of the pieces produced in Madeira Island.
Madeira embroidery is typical of the Madeira archipelago, and in its production where fabrics such as linen, silk, cotton and organdy are used, in the making of tablecloths, dresses, shirts, bedsheets and scarves. Madeira embroidery factories are in Funchal, but traditionally embroiderers work from home. Madeira embroidery is exported all over the world and carries the name of our region to the most varied destinations.
The Handicraft
The handicrafts of the Madeira Archipelago are diversified and originate from the population of the islands. Examples of handicrafts in the region are cane or wood articles, wicker objects, ceramics and pottery, villain boots, barretes de orelha (ear hat), crafts, dolls made of dough, wicker sledges from Monte, little houses from Santana dolls with regional costumes, preparation and spinning of textile fibres, tapestry and traditional costumes, corn straw dolls, toys and other traditional games and musical instruments, Madeira embroidery and Christmas cave.
On the IVBAM’s website, you can consult the list of qualified artisans in the Region, their contacts and their production speciality.
Do not miss a visit to the Loja de Artesanato da Madeira (Madeira Handicraft Shop), where visitors can not only admire the quality and accuracy of the pieces on display but also purchase them.
