Lots of our clients are keen to sample locally produced wines. So the latest edition of the Peñin Guide to Spanish Wines should be of interest, as it features over fifty marques from the island, with one awarded the highest accolade possible, an ‘Exceptional Wine’ and a further six being considered excellent.
The guide is the work of José Peñin, a leading commentator on Spanish viticulture and this edition marks the 25th anniversary of the publication.
Amongst the wines reviewed favourably by the guide was the Amalia 2013, produced by the Bodega Rubicon in the La Geria region of Lanzarote. And the Ariana 2012 from the El Grifo vines was also praised for its bouquet. Both wines are reds, in contrast to the more traditional production of white Malvasia grapes which have long been cultivated to create the sweet and semi-sweet varieties for which Lanzarote is best known.
These days many of the vineyards on the island are able to offer wines of each variety, with very palatable rosés and reds coming from some of the newer bodegas, such as Stratvs, Martinon and Vulcano. The unusual conditions for cultivation are no barrier to the production of many well-regarded wines, with several winning major international awards each year.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Lanzarote wines will find that most bodegas are happy to give guided tours of their premises as well as wine-tastings. Whilst the majority of the vineyards can be found in La Geria, such as Bodegas Rubicon, Stratvs, El Grifo, La Geria and La Florida, there are one or two others doted around in other parts of the island.
Bodega Bermejo for instance is based in La Vegueta, while Vulcano is just outside Tias. Vega de Yuco, which produces one of the best dry white wines, can be found between San Bartolome and Masdache, which is not quite within the La Geria region but sits on its borders.
The El Grifo bodega is the oldest surviving vineyard in the Canaries as can be seen in a visit to the museum that has been opened on site. It was originally founded in 1775 and has been in the same family ever since.
With a logo designed by Cesar Manrique and a range of wines that covers everything from sweet dessert wines to summery rosés and award winning reds, it is an excellent example of the wine culture of Lanzarote. In recent years they have even begun to offer a dry white wine that has been produced ecologically – in other words without pesticides or sulphates added during the maturation process.
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