Wine from La Geria in Lanzarote

by Nicola Quinn
Wine

'Wine barrels on background vines and mountains , Lanzarote; Canary islands.' - Lanzarote
'Wine barrels on background vines and mountains , Lanzarote; Canary islands.' irakite / Shutterstock

La Geria is Lanzarote’s superb wine growing region where thousands of crescent-shaped walls are found scattered all over the volcanic soil, each guarding a single vine which is grown in a sunken pit.

Not only does this part of Lanzarote look amazing, but it also creates some of the very best wine available in the whole of the Canary Islands. La Geria is so spectacular that it’s currently in the running for the prestigious European Landscape of the Year Award and could soon become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Around 75% of the wine produced in Lanzarote is Malvasia – one of the oldest varieties of grape in the world. It’s thanks to this grape that Lanzarote’s full-bodied and delicious wines have won many international awards over the years.

If you’d like to try the wine straight from the vineyard, head for the centre of the island where you’ll find no less than 18 commercial vineyards, not to mention the thousands of private growers who tend to their vines all across the island. Most of the big vineyards offer tours around their sites, with the opportunity to sample all the different types of wine produced onsite and buy your favourites at the end of the tour.

Despite Lanzarote being the last of the Canary Islands to begin producing wine, it is home to one of the oldest cellars in Spain – El Grifo – which has been continuously producing top-quality wine since 1775. El Grifo is open to the public every day between 10.30am and 7pm, with guided tours available between 11.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday when you’ll have the opportunity to explore the spectacular vineyards on foot.

If you don’t want to travel all the way to a vineyard to try some of the island’s best wine, you’ll be pleased to hear that many restaurants offer an extensive wine list with a fantastic selection of bottles produced locally. If you have a certain variation in mind, you’re best off visiting a traditional Canarian restaurant, where you’ll find a greater selection of local wines available, in comparison to international restaurants.