In recent years Lanzarote wines have won first prizes in national and international wine competitions. Over all it’s worth noting the white volcanic malvasía grape wines and the muscatel wines even though some wineries produce some excellent rosé and red wines.

Lanzarote is the largest producer of wine in all the Canaries with 21 wineries that make wine with an appellation of origin and quite a few craft wineries. The wineries own some hectares of vineyard but also buy grapes from small local farmers. These people harvest the grapes with the help of family members and friends, keeping on with the tending of their vineyards more out of love for this land and this family tradition than for making a meager economic profit. A million and a half kilograms yield is expected on the island this year, half of 2019’s yield.

The grape picking is done by hand and is complicated in the La Geria area where the grapevines are grown in troughs and the farmers have to carry the 20 kilo crates to their vehicles which can’t always be parked nearby. Due to this hard labor performed, this kind of farming is often referred to as ¨heroic farming¨ and unfortunately is endangered due to the lack of younger generations taking over the ¨business¨.

From the Lanzarote and Canarian Governments more support and appreciation of the work that goes into maintaining this cultivation method should be forthcoming because, otherwise, we stand to lose this singular landscape in the near future which is an excellent tourist attraction.

Nowadays, visitors are seeking more than just a sun and beach tourist destination. The wine routes are becoming more and more popular and through the typical products, the gastronomy and the wine we can get to know the island, the value of caring for and preserving this land, its history and its customs.

Do you want to do come on a gastronomic tour with us? We can design it for you and your family.