Canary Wine — Volcanoes in a Glass

The Canaries are one of the most fascinating wine regions in the world — and one of the oldest: Here grow prehypoxic vines that were never infested by phylloxera because the louse couldn't cross the Atlantic. Some vines are over 200 years old and still stand on their own roots — an absolute rarity in continental Europe.

Malvasía Volcánica

The Malvasía Volcánica is the queen of Canary grape varieties — an aromatic white wine grape that develops unique mineral notes on volcanic soils. The wine can be dry, semi-dry, or sweet. The dry variant from Lanzarote (D.O. Lanzarote) is one of the most exciting white wines in Spain: mineral, salty, with notes of white flowers and volcanic rock.

La Geria (Lanzarote) — The Most Spectacular Vineyards in the World

In the wine region La Geria on Lanzarote, the vines are planted in funnel-shaped pits (Hoyos) dug into the black volcanic ash (Lapilli/Picón). Semi-circular walls of lava stone (Zocos) protect against the wind. The landscape looks like it's from another planet — and is UNESCO-protected cultural heritage. The Bodegas El Grifo (the oldest bodega in the Canaries, founded in 1775) and Bodega La Geria offer tastings.

Other Wine Regions

• Tenerife: Five D.O. areas — more than any other Spanish island. Particularly interesting: D.O. Tacoronte-Acentejo (red wines from Listán Negro) and D.O. Valle de la Orotava. In northern Tenerife, vines grow at up to 1,500 m altitude — extreme viticulture
• La Palma: Vinos de Tea — wine aged in barrels made of Canary pine wood (Tea), giving it a resinous, absolutely unique taste. A revelation for some wine connoisseurs, an acquired taste for others
• El Hierro: Tiny production, but the local white wine from Vijariego is remarkable
• Gran Canaria: The D.O. Gran Canaria produces excellent red and white wines in the highlands around Bandama and Santa Brígida