The D.O. of Canarian wine

A review of the ten denominations of origin (D.O.) of Canarian wines

The wine of the Canary Islands is unique, and it is said to be their landscape. It has grape varieties that grow exclusively on its islands, and ancestral forms of cultivation are still practiced. Thus, the vineyard landscapes are exceptional, a true jewel that deserves to be known. On this occasion we review the ten denominations of origin (D.O.) that exist in the Canary Islands. Half of them, five, belong to the island of Tenerife, and the other five belong to the islands of Gran Canaria, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma and Lanzarote. One by one are the following:

D.O. Ycoden Daute Isora (1994)

Region of the northwest of the island of Tenerife. D.O. that includes the ancient Guanche kingdoms (Menceyatos de Ycode and Daute) and the domains of Princess Isora. The origin dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Nine municipalities belong to this D.O: San Juan de la Rambla, La Guancha, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico, El Tanque, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte, Buenavista del Norte and Guía de Isora. Vines with systems such as the Portuguese vine arbour or the trellis, in total some 2,000 hectares, located between 50 and 1,400 m, whose predominant varieties for white wine are listán blanco Other white wines are bermejuelo, gual, malvasía, moscatel, pedro ximénez, torrontés, verdello, vijariego, albillo, forastera blanca, sabro, baboso blanco and bastardo blanco. In reds, the predominant is listán negro, followed by tintilla, negramoll, baboso negro, malvasía rosada, castellana, bastardo negro, moscatel negro and vijariego negra.

Wines D.O. Tacoronte-Acentejo

D.O. Tacoronte - Acentejo (1994)

In the north of the island of Tenerife, taking the Dorsal Mountain Range, approximately 2,400 hectares of vineyards that represent no more and no less than 20% of the entire wine-growing area of the Canary Islands. These vineyards are located between 100 and 1,000 meters above sea level, located on terraces on slopes facing north and the sea. The municipalities that comprise this designation of origin are San Cristóbal de La Laguna, El Rosario, Tacoronte, Tegueste, El Sauzal, Santa Úrsula, La Matanza de Acentejo, La Victoria de Acentejo and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Wines D.O. Valle de La Orotava

D.O. Valle de La Orotava (1995)

La Orotava Valley is in the north of the island of Tenerife, and includes the municipalities of Los Realejos, La Orotava and Puerto de La Cruz. The valley, which is really a tectonic pit, is on a slope in the upper part of the valley, and has much less slope than other areas of Tenerife. It falls from the northern slope of Teide, the northern slope of the Cordillera Dorsal, to the sea. The first vines date from the beginning of the 16th century, and the production of this D.O. is approximately 370,000 bottles per year, produced by 16 wineries. The system of vines is of multiple braided cordon, a special system that gives a particular quality to its grapes.

Wines D.O. Valle de Güímar

D.O. Valle de Güímar (1995)

Located in the south of the island of Tenerife, this D.O. is located in a tectonic trench, like the Orotava Valley. The vineyards, 630 hectares in total, are located between 100 and 1,400 metres above sea level, with a total of twelve bodegas, belonging to three of the island's municipalities: Arafo, Candelaria and Güímar. White grape varieties predominate (65%), with a total of twelve varieties (malvasia, verdello, listan blanco, moscatel, vijariego, pedro ximénez...). The muscatel and malvasia are used to make the traditional classic sweet wine. As for red wine, 35%, the grape varieties are, from the land, negramoll, black muscatel, bastardo negro, castellana, malvasia rosada or listan negro, and international grape varieties include, among others, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and merlot.

D.O. Abona (1995)

In the south of the island of Tenerife, in a somewhat arid area of the region of Abona, this D.O. includes the municipalities of Fasnia, Arico, Granadilla de Abona, Vilaflor, San Miguel de Abona, Arona and Adeje. 19 wineries group together some 1,200 producers, with approximately 1,500 hectares of cultivation, located on the slopes of the Teide. Sixty percent of the production is white grapes, with the listán blanco variety predominating above all others, as well as malvasía, gual, verdello, bermejuelo or sabro. Forty percent of red grapes are dominated by the listán negro and negramoll varieties, although other varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo, merlot, syrah, etc. are also grown.

D.O. La Gomera (2003)

The origin of wine on the island of La Gomera dates back to the 15th century. This D.O. covers the whole island, that is, six municipalities, one predominating over the rest: Vallehermoso. The geography of La Gomera has been particularly rugged, and has been exploited by building terraces and terraces to grow vines on 120 hectares. The majority of the wine produced on La Gomera is white (85%), with a predominance of the foreign variety, the white or gomera. In addition, other white grapes such as listán blanco, bermejuela, gual, malvasía volánica and malvasía aromatic, doradilla, vijariego, torrontés, pedro ximénez ... The remaining 15% of vla production is for red wine, is divided in order of importance between the varieties listán negro, negramoll, tintilla and castellana (as regards native species) and tempranillo, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, merlot or pinot noir (as regards international grapes).

D.O. Gran Canaria (2005)

It occupies the entire island, so there are a lot of microclimates. This denomination groups two previous denominations that have merged: the D.O. Gran Canaria and the D.O. Monte Lentiscal. It covers the entire island, in 230 hectares of vineyards, cultivated in areas from 50 to 1,300 m above sea level. The majority of Gran Canaria's wine is red: pedominant varieties listán negro (above all), negramoll and tintilla. For white wine, the listán blanco variety predominates over all other varieties. Other varieties are: albillo, bermejuelo, gual, malvasía and vijariego blanco.

D.O. El Hierro (1994)

The subzones where this D.O. is produced are El Norte, el Golfo and el Pinar. Each one has its own peculiarities, in terms of height and orographic characteristics. In total, there are approximately 200 winegrowers in this D.O., who devote hectares of vineyards to cultivation. The predominant grape is the listan blanco, since white wines are traditionally the most produced on this island. It is followed in importance by the native variety verdijadiego white, and to a lesser extent by the varieties malvasía, baboso blanco, bermejuela, pedro ximénez, burra blanca, gual and moscatel. As for the red wine, a minority but growing, the main varieties are listán negro, verdijadiego negro, baboso negro, tintilla, graciano, negramoll or bastardo negro.

Wines D.O. Lanzarote

D.O. Lanzarote (1993)

The surface area of vineyards destined for this D.O. is 1,500 hectares. Its cultivation is very peculiar, given the special conditions of the island: the vines are planted in holes, which in turn are protected by stones arranged in semicircles, between 200 and 500 meters high. In this way, the plant finds fertile soil in which to take root. Approximately twelve wineries produce this D.O., in which white grapes predominate, especially the volcanic malmsey variety, followed by vijariego, albillo, listán blanco and gual. As for red wine, listán negro, negramoll, tintilla and malvasía rosada, as well as syrah.

Wines D.O. La Palma

D.O. La Palma (1994)

There are three subzones where this D.O. is produced: Norte, Fuencaliente and Hoyo del Mazo, among which some 730 hectares of vineyards are distributed. The three subzones are very different in terms of orography, soil and altitude. There are approximately twenty bodegas under this appellation, which produce mainly white wine, with the listán blanco variety standing out, followed by albillo and bujariego. The malvasia for the white sweets, and negramoll for the red sweets.

The Canary Islands

Photo source: RTVE

Share:

Download now our free digital guide

If you are looking for a digital guide that will help you make the most of your trip to Tenerife, our guide What to see in Tenerife in 4 days is created for you to know all the essentials and more on your trip.

Featured articles

Other articles about...

Are you going to Tenerife and you still don't have a plan?

Download our free guide "What to see in Tenerife in 4 days" and discover all the corners of Tenerife to make the most of your trip.