Spanish wine production in these volcanic isles is still a hand made process with a demanding and labour intensive harvest.
Some of the islands plant their vineyards in the standard “T” shape on terraces. However Lanzarote plant their vines deep within the soil and are allowed to grow over the surface. Each plant is placed inside a hand made crater covered by a layer of picón (powdered black lava) to keep moisture circled by a stone wall to protect them from the wind. The landscape is a moon-like scene which belongs to a sci-fi film.
We sampled Tajinaste from Tenerife in La Orotava and reds from La Gomera and exquisite dry white wines from Lanzarote made from Malvasia grapes, including Bermejo, El Grifo and Bodegas Rubicon.
“There are several others, as well as red wine in some of the other islands like La Gomera. However, we found this grape to be the most rounded of all – fantastic, fresh and quite unique taste!”