Islas Canarias wine
The Canary Islands an extraordinary wine region present unique vineyards producing of many sought-after wines, although local production rarely reaches beyond the islands. The winemaking tradition dates to the 1400s, initially producing sweet wines for explorers. It is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean 70 miles off the coast of Morocco.
Grapes in wines from Islas Canarias
The vines in the Canary Islands weren't destroyed by the phylloxera plague in the end of the 19th century. It now hosts an extraordinary array of very local and rare grape varieties like Baboso Negro, Baboso Blanco, Gual, Listan Blanco, Marmajuelo, Tintilla Castellana, Negramoll, Burrablanca, Breval and Forastera to name a few.
The more common grapes cultivated in the Canaray island are:
Other regions
The terroir of wines from Islas Canarias
The Canary Islands' terroir is marked by its volcanic origins and diverse microclimates. Volcanic soil (which is rich on minerals) infuses the local wines with unique undertones. The vineyards located at 500 to 1000 meters above sea level, benefit from stone-terraced settings that aid in preserving the grapes' freshness and acidity amidst the region's warm, tropical climate. Despite the challenging conditions and its unique terroir fosters the production of high-quality wines with distinct flavors.
The classifications of wines from Islas Canarias
The Canary Islands have ten official Designations of Origins (DO’s). Tenerife, the largest island, hosts five of these DO’s. A short explanation regarding the different wine growing regions:
- El Hierro: specializes in white wines.
- Gran Canaria: features two designated regions, DO Gran Canaria as well as DO Monte Lentiscal, producing primarily red wine under the label "Tinto del Monte."
- La Gomera: has vineyards on steep terraced slopes.
- Lanzarote: cultivates vineyards that flourish in the favorable environment of volcanic soils, frequently planted in man-made indentations.
- La Palma: has a DO status and contains a large number of vines particularly from the Listan Blanco grape.
- Tenerife: hosts five DO areas, under which the regions: Abona, Tacoronte-Acentejo, Valle de Guimar, Valle de la Orotava, and Ycoden-Daute-Isora are all classified by a DO classification.