Tenerife Wine

The First Salon of Tenerife Wines was presented in Madrid on 30 March 1998.

Tenerife is home to no less than 5 fullfledged DO ("Denomination de Origen") wine producing areas: Abona, Tacoronte-Acentejo, Valle de Güimar, Valle de la Orotava, and Ycoden-Daute-Isora. While DO status is a recent phenomenon - the first, Tacoronte-Acentejo, dates from 1992 - wines have been made here for centuries.

Unique local grape varieties, rich volcanic soil, and a mild climate tempered by moisture-laden Atlantic tradewinds, make for distinctive and attractive wines. It may seem strange that there are so many DO regions on one 2,000 sq.km. island, but the differences in local microclimates produced by the island's rugged terrain and its interaction with the tradewinds, make for a wide variety of growing conditions across Tenerife.

Abona - Situated toward the south on the eastern side of Tenerife, the region's vineyards lie at elevations from 300 to 1,750 meters -where the best quality grapes are grown.
Vineyards: 1,066 hectares
Grape varieties: White (80%) - Listán Blanco, Verdello, Malvasía, Sabro, Bermejuelo; Red (20%) - Listán Negro, Negramoll
Wineries: 7 - Grape growers: 524 - 1997 Production: 370,000 liters

Tacoronte-Acentejo - Situated to the northwest of Tenerife, the region's vineyards lie at elevations from sea level to 1,000 meters. The best developed largest and oldest wine producing area. This was the fist area in the Canary Islands to win a "Mark of Origin", awarded by the Autonomous Region in 1992.
Vineyards: 1,200 hectares
.Grape varieties: White - Gual, Malvasía, Listán Blanco, Marmajuelo; Red - Listán Negro, Negramoll
Wineries: 42 - Grape growers: 1,483 - 1997 Production: 1,533,000 kilos of grapes

The main producer is "Bodegas Insulares Tenerife" and the main brand is "Viña Norte". 12.5% alcohol content made mainly with "Listán Negro" grapes and can be described as well presented, with a strong, intense, but fresh bouquet, fruity flavor, strong character, goes down nicely leaving a nice and long aftertaste.

Valle de Güimar - Situated on the eastern side of Tenerife, the region's vineyards lie at elevations from sea level to 1,400 meters.
Vineyards: 670 hectares.
Grape varieties: White - Listán Blanco (82.5%), Malvasía, Güal, Vijariego; Red - Listán Negro (13.5%), Negramoll
Wineries: 10 - Grape growers: 540 - 1997 Production: 370,000 bottles

Valle de la Orotava - Situated on the north coast Tenerife, the region's vineyards are situated at lower altitudes, under the more direct influence of the Atlantic tradewinds.
Vineyards: 465 hectares
Grape varieties: White- Bastardo Blanco, Güal, Forastera Blanca, Listán Blanco, Malvasía, Marmajuelo, Moscatel, Pedro Ximénez, Torrontés, Verdello, Vijariego; Red - Listán Negro, Negramoll
Wineries: 21 - Grape growers: 469 - 1997 Production: 1,219,445 kilos of grapes

Ycoden - Duate - This is an area of 1003 Has. of vines (560 registered with the Regulatory Council), between 75 m and 925 m above sea level. It includes the boroughs of San Juan de la Rambla, La Guancha, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte, El Tanque, Santiago del Teide and Guia de Isora.

For further details on the food available in the Canaries please refer to our Tenerife Food page.