Blandy’s Bual 1920, a Madeira wine produced by the Madeira Wine Company, got first place on the ranking of the 100 Best Portuguese Wines, compiled by the renowned monthly magazine “Blue Wine”.

This Madeira wine, at the ripe old age of 87 years, having been aged for more than 65 years in old and used American oak barrels in the São Francisco wine cellars in Funchal, got a score of 19 out of a possible 20, in the battery of tests conducted by this magazine.

The Blandy’s Bual 1920, now considered to be the Best Portuguese Wine by “Blue Wine” magazine, was selected out of three casks of 650 litres, and only 2,480 bottles having been produced in 2006, thus contributing towards the large number of Madeira Wines within the “Old and Very Old Wines” category made available on the market.

On the list of best wines prepared by this famous publication, there are other Madeira Wines, including “Cossart Gordon Bual Vintage 1958” with a classification of 18 points, “Blandy’s Terrantez 1975” and “Blandy’s Vintage Verdelho 1977”, both at 17.5 points, and “Blandy’s Malvasia 15 Years” with a classification of 16.5.

Sugar cane cultivation was once a key factor on the Island’s development. This fortunate species was introduced by Henry, the Prince who ordered it from Sicily. After planting it, first in Funchal in Prince’s lands and then throughout the island, sugar cane sugar soon became the white gold on the external trade.

Today sugar cane is mainly produced in Ponta do Sol and due to the geography of the soils it is still a hard man work as it is not possible to use machines in such small and steep terrains.

From the 9th of April 2007 on, the 5 sugar cane processing factories of all over the island shall put into operation their machines to process sugar canes.

The traditional process for the crushing of sugar cane may be seen by the visitor, who may thus come into contact with one of the oldest agricultural techniques on Madeira, which originated the production of rum and also the production of honey from sugar cane, usually known as molasses but much sweeter and tastier.

During this month, around 6 thousand tons of sugar will be developed into rum or sugar cane honey most of it in Ribeiro Seco, Funchal, processing factory. The cane crushing shall take place continuously, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. An interesting and important tourist attraction is the sugar cane mill in Calheta village which still makes use of the original crushing machines with about 200 years old and running on steam, which makes this factory the only one of its type in the country.

Every April, Madeira’s flower festival fills the main streets of Funchal with different colours and perfumes. It is a breathtaking festival with a parade through downtown Funchal, exhibiting a multiplicity of flowers, this year under the theme “From Madeira Islands - a Flower for Peace!”

The day before the parade, thousands of children gather in Praça do Município to lay a flower on the so-called “Wall of Hope”.
There are also other activities in Funchal at the same time, like making carpets of flowers in footpaths, performances by folklore groups through downtown Funchal, flower shows, classical music concerts and some other variety shows.

Next there is the general programme for the 4 days of Madeira Flowers Festival:
From the 19th to the 21st of April
Floral Carpets
- Av. Arriaga central footphats (In front of the Cathedral and Marina Shopping)
- Largo do Chafariz Square
Flowers Market
- Av. Arriaga central footphats (In front of the tourism office)

20th of April
52nd Flower Exhibition at Largo da Restauração
7 pm - Official Opening of the Exhibition
8 pm - Opening to the public of the exhibition

21st of April
“The Wall of Hope” Ceremony
10 am - Children’s Procession
11 am – Dressing the “the Wall of Hope” with one flower by each participant children at Praça do Município square
- Release of pigeons and Children’s show at Praça do Município square
IV EncanTunas
9 pm - Meeting of Madeira Feminine University Musical Groups - Centro de Congressos do Casino da Madeira

22nd of April
Flower Festival Parade with the participation of 8 groups
16.00 - Starting of the Flower Festival Parade
Itinerary: Departure at the Statue of Autonomy (South Side), continuing along Av. do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses (South Side), Rua Dias Leite, Rotunda do Infante, Av. Arriaga (North Side), Av. Zarco, Rua Câmara Pestana and finishing at Praça do Município square.

In the 15th and 16th families where the main propulsion of Madeira agriculture, not only for domestic use but on a wide scale that had consequences on the national and international level with sugar cane production. This has attracted several Flemish and European merchants to Funchal. Several economic cicles had set the rhythm of the small fields since the beginning, almost at the same time of sugar cane, the wood and cereals played an important role in local economy. Then it followed wine, willow and later banana.

On the night before Epiphany's Day it is usual to find groups of people singing together at their friend's door. This is the last day of Christmas celebrations, when the three kings got to the cradle of Jesus.