Lanzarote Wine

At first glance, Lanzarote hardly looks like wine country. With just a sprinkling of rain each year, endless sunshine, and fields of black volcanic ash, it’s easy to wonder how anything could grow here at all. Yet, the island’s wines are truly something special. 

Local growers have been using the same ingenious methods for over three centuries, creating wines that you simply won’t find anywhere else in Spain; or the world. It’s one of those little miracles that makes Lanzarote so fascinating.

Wine has been part of life here on Lanzarote for over five centuries, and for much of that time, it was celebrated far beyond our shores. The sweet Malvasia wines of the Canary Islands were once poured at the English court during the 16th and 17th centuries. There are even stories that Shakespeare himself received barrels of this wine as part of his payment.

Then, in 1730, Lanzarote faced a challenge that would change the island forever. For six long years, volcanic eruptions covered a third of the land with lava and ash, wiping out most of the farmland. Many families left, but those who stayed had to adapt and find new ways to live in a landscape that looked more like the moon than the green fields they once knew.

It was almost by accident that islanders discovered the volcanic ash could hold onto precious moisture. When rain fell, it would seep into the ash and remain there, protected from the fierce sun. If you dug down far enough, you would find fertile soil waiting below. By planting vines deep in this earth and sheltering them from the ever-present wind, the people of Lanzarote found a way for their vineyards to thrive once again.

Here on Lanzarote, our vines are grown in a way you will not see anywhere else. Each one is carefully planted in its own hollow, or hoyo, dug by hand through the volcanic ash until the fertile soil is reached below. Some of these hollows are surprisingly deep, sometimes two or three metres. Around each vine, local farmers build a low, curved wall from black lava rock, always shaped to shelter the plant from the ever-present trade winds. These protective walls, known as zocos, are what give the La Geria valley its striking appearance: thousands of dark, crescent shapes scattered across the black volcanic landscape, each one cradling a single vine.

It is a slow and demanding way to farm, and the harvests are modest, sometimes only 300 vines to a hectare, compared to thousands elsewhere in Europe. But what we lack in quantity, we more than make up for in character. The grapes that grow here are shaped by the island’s tough conditions, and you can taste that intensity in every glass of Lanzarote wine. Each bottle tells the story of this unique landscape and the care that goes into every vine.

Here on Lanzarote, most of our vineyards are planted with Malvasia Volcanica, a grape that has truly made itself at home on the island. Although its journey began in Greece and passed through Madeira, it has settled here and developed into a variety you simply won’t find anywhere else. The dry white wines produced from these grapes are wonderfully crisp and mineral, with bright citrus and tropical fruit flavours, and just a touch of saltiness from the Atlantic air. It’s a favourite pairing with fresh fish, especially when enjoyed outdoors on a warm Lanzarote evening.

You’ll also find a sweet version of Malvasia here, which is a world apart from the dry style. It’s rich and honeyed, and if you have a chance to visit one of the island’s bodegas, it’s well worth tasting.

La Geria valley is the heart of Lanzarote’s wine country, unfolding between Yaiza and San Bartolome. Here, more than a dozen bodegas open their doors to visitors, inviting you to sample their wines and learn about the island’s unique traditions. El Grifo, the oldest bodega on Lanzarote, has been producing wine since 1775 and is still going strong today. Bodega La Geria and Rubicon are also well worth a visit. There’s something special about spending a leisurely afternoon winding through the valley, stopping wherever catches your eye, and soaking up the atmosphere. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you long after you leave.

The wines from this region are truly excellent, but it’s the landscape that makes them unforgettable. Once you discover the story behind these volcanic vineyards, each glass seems to capture a little more of Lanzarote’s magic.

If you want to truly soak up the magic of La Geria, I always recommend setting aside at least half a day and letting yourself slow down. The LZ-30 winds gently through the valley between Uga and Mozaga, with a handful of bodegas nestled close together along the way. It’s easy to pick two or three and turn your visit into a leisurely afternoon, tasting and exploring at your own pace.

Most of the main bodegas welcome visitors with guided tours or simple tastings. El Grifo, the oldest winery on the island, has a charming little wine museum beside its vines and is well worth a visit for the history alone. Bodega La Geria offers hour-long tours that take you through the vineyard and into the cellar, finishing with a tasting. It’s wise to book ahead, as the groups are kept small and personal. Rubicon, set in a beautiful 17th-century manor house, is one of the most atmospheric spots on Lanzarote. If you’re after something a little quieter and more focused on the wine itself, Los Bermejos, just a bit further north, is a favourite among those in the know.

If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, Wine Tours Lanzarote runs small group tours that take in several bodegas in one relaxed outing. Their guides know the island and its wines inside out, and they make the whole experience both easy and enjoyable. It’s a lovely option if you want to focus on tasting and soaking up the scenery, without worrying about directions.

For something a little different, Bodegas Vega de Yuco hosts a sunset tour at Finca Testeina. You stroll through the vines as the sun dips behind the valley, then finish with a tasting and some local cheese. It may sound a bit theatrical, but the setting is genuinely beautiful and the experience feels truly special.

Just a quick tip: wine tastings on Lanzarote are rarely free. The island is remote, production is small, and sending wine off the island is expensive. You’ll usually pay a few euros per person for a basic tasting, and a little more for a guided tour. It’s well worth it. The wines are excellent, and there’s something special about tasting them right where they’re made, with the volcanic landscape and the Atlantic breeze all around you.

Not so long ago, it was almost impossible to bring a taste of Lanzarote home with you. Many visitors would spend a week here, discover a favourite Malvasia, and then find there was simply no way to track it down once they left the island. Every now and then, a bottle might appear in a specialist wine shop back home, but usually at a price that made it feel less special. For most, Lanzarote wine remained a memory of the island itself.

Happily, things have changed. Wine Shop Lanzarote, which began as part of Wine Tours Lanzarote, now makes it easy to enjoy a wide selection of our island’s wines in the UK and Ireland. Orders are shipped from a UK warehouse and usually arrive within three to five days, with free delivery if you choose a dozen bottles or more. You’ll find wines from some of Lanzarote’s best-loved bodegas, like El Grifo, Bermejo, Vulcano, Rubicon, and Vega de Yuco, so you can enjoy a real taste of the island rather than just whatever happens to be available.

El Grifo also offers direct sales through their website and ships internationally, which is especially handy if you fell for a particular wine during your stay and want to enjoy it again at home.

There are also a few Spanish online retailers, such as Vinissimus and Decantalo, who ship a small but carefully chosen selection of Lanzarote wines to the UK. Their range is a bit more limited, but you might still find an old favourite or discover something new.

It’s worth remembering that Lanzarote’s wines are crafted in small batches, often by hand, and with a great deal of care. In fact, only a tiny fraction ever leaves the Canary Islands, which makes it all the more special when a bottle finds its way to a doorstep in Birmingham or Edinburgh. The prices reflect the dedication and hard work that go into every bottle, so you won’t find them at supermarket prices. If you’ve just returned from Lanzarote and are missing a favourite wine, Wine Shop Lanzarote is usually the best place to start your search. And if you’re a wine lover who hasn’t yet visited the island but wants to see what all the fuss is about, I’d suggest beginning with a dry Malvasia from El Grifo or Bermejo – a perfect introduction to the unique flavours of Lanzarote.