The Malvasia grape variety was introduced with the first settlement, and the first export, was to the court of François I, King of France. Wine still had a minor economic importance, because until the first half of the 16th century, Madeira was mainly one of the most important markets for Atlantic sugar. Due to competition from new markets, exports of the “white gold” declined. The sugar cane fields were replaced by vineyards, and wine became the main economic source of the island. The urban fabric of the “sugar city”, which stretched along the coast of the bay, climbed up the slopes to the north (17th-18th century), and occupied the highest part of the natural “amphitheater” of Funchal as the “wine city”. Of the 30 grape varieties that exist on the island, Sercial (dry), Verdelho (medium dry), Boal (medium sweet), and Malvasia (sweet) stand out.