Canary islands

Group of islands belonging to Spain, with a total surface area of around 7.500 km² (Span. Canarias) is located in the Atlantic ocean, of the north-west coast of Africa. The islands lie around 1.100 km from mainland Spain, whereas the most easterly island, Lanzarote, is only 100 kilometres from the African mainland (Morocco). When the Romans landed on the island of Fuerteventura in ancient times, they found numerous packs of wild dogs, that is why they named the island „Insula Canaria“ (island of dogs). A Spanish ship landed on Gran Canaria in 1402, and found the indigenous population of Guanchen, a tribe that still lived on a stone age level. Both the Spanish and the Portuguese brought their inidgenous grape varieties to the islands in the course of this century, and thus established viticulture there. At the time, sweet alcoholic wines were popular, these were made from the white varieties Moscatel and Malvasia. The wine was known as „Canary Sack“ (see also under Sack#Sack), and huge quantities were exported to Europe and Northern Europe. The island wine was already famous at the time of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), in his play „As you like it“, Sir Toby Belch calls for a „a cup of canary“. The islands are of volcanic origin, the last eruption occurred on La Palma in 1971. As a result, volcanic soils dominate on all the islands. The archipelago is divided into two provinces, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The seven main islands are Fuerteventura, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Lanzarote, La Palma and Tenerife. Wine is grown on all these islands. A total of 9 DO regions were created in the mid-1990’s. Five of them are located on Tenerife: Abona, Tacoronte-Acentejo, Valle de Güímar, Valle de la Orotava and Ycoden-Daute-Isora. The others are El Hierro (El Hierro), El Monte (Gran Canaria), Lanzarote (Lanzarote) and La Palma (La Palma). The total vineyard area overall is around 9.000 hectares. There are 33 permitted grape varieties (19 white, 14 red), most of which have survived only on these islands. The most important variety is Listán (the white Listán Blanco or Listán Floral and the red Listán Negro or Negro Común). Traditionally. Varietal sweet and liqueur wines (especially on La Palma and Lanzarote) are made from Malvasia and Moscatel, some of these are also fortified. Oxidative rancios are also traditional. The completely ungrafted vines are another special feature, as the archipelago was spared an invasion of phylloxera.

El Hierro – this is where Englishman John Hill first planted vines in 1626. The vineyards of the DO of the same name are terraced, they have a total area of 300 hectares, and they are located at altitudes of up to 700 metres above sea level. The region is klnown particularly for white wines made from Vijariego Blanco. These make up around 70% of production, and are also made from the other typical Canaries varieties. The red wines are made primarily from Listán Negro and Negramoll. Moscatel is used to produce rancios that are matured in chestnut barrels for many years. The best sweet wines are made from botrytised grapes.

Gran Canaria with the DO El Monte has a total vineyard area of around 450 hectares located at altitudes of up to 850 metres above sea level. The vineyards are located all around the capital city of Las Palmas, as well as in the north-east of the island. Most of the Canary grape varieties are grown here. The best-known wine, which also provided the foundation for DO classification, is the „Tinto del Monte“ (mountain wine), which is made from the Negro Común (Listán Negro) grape.

Lanzarote ist he archetypal volcanic island – there was a volcanic eruption in 1730 that lasted for six years, and covered the whole island with black ashes. This provided an excellent soil fort he vines planted there soon after, with vineyards spread all over the island. The climate is sub-tropical and extremely dry. The vines are planted in man-made hollows (Hoyos), and surrounded by stone walls, in order to protect them from the wind. The DO bears the same name and has a total vineyard area of 2.300 hectares, the leading red varieties are Listán Negro (known as Negro Común) and Negramoll. The white wines are made from Listán Blanco, Diego, Burra Blanca, Malvasia and Moscatel. Sweet wines, some of them fortified, of the last two varieties account for half the white wine production. The best wines are made from vines up to 100 years old. The best-known estate, founded in 1775, is the Bodega „El Grifo“, which is famous for its Malvasia wines, and has its own wine museum, which is worth a visit.

La Palma is also known as „La Isla Bonita“ (the beautiful island). The DO of the same name has a total vineyard area of around 1.000 hectares, and is divided into the three sub-zones Fuencaliente-Las Manchas, Hoyo de Mazo and Norte del Palma. 80% of the wines produced are white wines made from the classical grape varieties of the island group. The sweet wines are partly made from botrytised grapes, some of them are fortified to an alcohol content of 22%. A speciality is the rancio white wine “Tea”, which is not classified as DO, made from Albillo grapes. Its name is derived from an indigenous type of pine tree, which is used to make the 500 litre barrels used for its maturation.

Teneriffa is the largest island in the Canary Island group, it has a surface area of 2.000 km². The DO Tacoronte-Acentejo is on the west coast, it is named after the towns of Tacoronte and La Victoria de Acentejo. The vineyard area totals 1.800 hectares. 90% of the wines produced are red wines made from Listán Negro and Negramoll, as well as from Tintilla, Moscatel Negro, Malvasia Rosada and Vijariego Negro. It is common practice to add a little white wine to the reds after blending. The permitted white varieties are Forastera Blanca, Gual, Listán Blanco, Malvasia, Marmajuelo, Verdello and Vijariego Blanco. The largest producer is the „Insulares Tenerife“ co-operatives, whose 550 members own a total of 250 hectares of vineyard. The co-operative’s most important wine is the „Viña Norte“, available in several versions. The DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora has the hottest climate, and includes the entire green belt in the north-west of the island. It is named after the ancient Guanchen kingdoms of Ycode and Daute, as well as the empire of Princess Isora. The good reputation of these wines can be traced back to the 16th and 17th century. At that time, wine was the only successful branch of business. The Canary Islands were the obligatory halfway stop between America and Europe. Garachico developed to bet he main export port for the famous „Canary Sack“. The vineyard area totals 1.600 hectares on volcanic soils, the vineyards are located at altitudes of from 50 to 1.400 metres above sea level. The small parcels of land are mostly located on steep sloping sites. The primary product is white wine made from Listán Blanco, which accounts for 70% of the vineyard area. Other widely planted varieties are Listán Negro and Negramoll.

The DO Valle de Güímar (750 ha) is named after the valley of the same name. The vineyards here are located at altitudes of up to 1.400 metres above sea level. Mainly young white wines (Jovenes#Joven) made from Listán Blanco as well as sweet wines made from Malvasia and Moscatel are produced. The DO Valle de la Orotava (700 ha) is named after the town of Orotava on the north-west coast. The two varieties of Listán account for 90% of the vineyard area. Two thirds of the wines produced are white, and sweet wines are also produced from botrytised grapes. In the south lies the DO Abona (2.200 ha), with vineyards at up to 1.800 metres above sea level. 70% of the wines produced are white wines made from Listán Blanco, as well as from the ancient varieties Gual and Sabro. Red wines are made from Listán Negro, Bastardo Negro, Malvasia Rosada and Tintilla.