DISCOVER LANZAROTE’S WINE ROUTES
Lanzarote is renowned for its unusual winemaking methods. There are a number of routes around the island offering visitors an insight into how grapes are turned into wine and the chance to taste the various types of wines produced here.
Geography and climate come together to create wines with unique characteristics that have earned them various Spanish and international accolades, including the award conferred on the Gran Solera Especial 1975 Muscatel or the Gold Medal from the 1999 edition of the Vinalies competition held in Paris.
The island’s wineries are all located relatively close to one another, allowing for the creation of various routes that offer visitors the chance to enjoy Lanzarote’s excellent wines and climate.
Here you’ll find details of two of the principal routes you can explore during your visit to the island:
1. The Mozaga to Tinache Wine Route
This route starts at the ‘Monumento del Campesino’, the monumental site dedicated to the island’s country people, from where it makes its way towards the town of Tinajo. One of the most intriguing features of this route is that the grapes are grown using a technique known as enarenado, where the soil is covered with a layer of volcanic sand to protect it from the sun and prevent the groundwater from evaporating.
Bodegas de Mozaga is one of the wineries open to visitors on this route. One of the oldest on the island, it has been producing top quality wines since 1880 and has received numerous awards.
In addition to learning how grapes are transformed into wine, visitors to Bodega Finca Fajardo can admire the tools and utensils that have been used for 200 years in the wineries of Lanzarote.
Bodega Tinache is located in an area planted mainly with the malvasia, negra and muscatel varieties. It has been producing and bottling wine under its own brand since 1998.
2. The Barreto to Timanfaya Wine Route
Leaving behind the ‘Monumento del Campesino’ and making our way towards San Bartolomé will take us through the area known as La Geria. A breathtaking itinerary of volcanic landscapes dotted with hollows between 1 and 1.25 metres deep in order to reach the soil, sheltered by stone walls, creating the conditions for grape crops unlike any others.
One of the highlights of this route is Bodega Barreto, a family-run winery that includes an area for tasting and purchasing the wine produced there. Tours of the winemaking facilities are available, provided you book beforehand.
Bodega El Grifo, founded in 1775, is one of the Canary Islands’ oldest wineries. Its long-standing tradition and know-how have earned it numerous awards and an excellent reputation throughout Spain. Access to the winery is via the ‘Monumento del Pájaro Grifo’, a site dedicated to the griffin, and it welcomes some 60,000 visitors each year. The facilities include a museum offering an insight into the machinery used, which dates back to the late 19th century, and a library with more than 5,000 volumes.
Bodega La Geria undoubtedly boasts the finest location, just a short distance from La Caridad Shrine, in the heart of La Geria. Visitors can tour the facilities of this winery, as well as taste its dry red malvasia wines.
Bodega Timanfaya is situated inside a lava tube. Initially the wines were produced just for the family, but today they can be purchased in the winery shop. The facilities are open to visitors who can learn about the production and ageing processes.
La Geria
Lanzarote is definitely the ideal destination for wine tourism and learning about its unique winemaking method, unlike any other in the world
If you’d like to book your holiday on Lanzarote, marvel at the lunar landscapes, the energy of this volcanic island and explore the fabulous wine routes, book your hotel in Puerto del Carmen or in Playa Blanca.
