Madeira Raises a Glass to 250 Years of American Independence

History was on the menu Thursday evening as the Madeira Promotion Bureau hosted “A Toast to America” at the Residence of the Ambassador of Portugal in DC, commemorating the famed 1776 toast to American independence made with Madeira Wine.

Nearly 400 guests from the diplomatic, media, tourism, and business communities gathered to celebrate the connection between Madeira and America’s founding. Following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the nation’s founders reportedly marked the occasion with glasses of Madeira Wine, a tradition that inspired this America250 celebration nearly two and a half centuries later.

The evening featured remarks from Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government of Madeira; Ambassador Francisco Duarte Lopes; a George Washington re-enactor; and Madeira Promotion Bureau Executive Director Sara Marote. Guests sampled fortified and still wines from the Portuguese archipelago while enjoying a menu that blended American and Madeiran flavors.

A culinary trio of acclaimed Madeiran chefs (Octávio Freitas, Júlio Pereira, and Filipe Janeiro) delivered standout bites throughout the reception, while professional sommeliers guided guests through tastings of Madeira’s signature wines.

Beyond the history lesson, the event underscored Madeira’s growing appeal among American travelers. The destination welcomed approximately 80,000 U.S. visitors in 2025, aided in part by United Airlines’ seasonal nonstop service between Newark and Madeira’s Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport.