The Canary Islands are an archipelago of eight islands located off the northwest coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa. With a rich history of winemaking, the Canary Islands are a paradise for wine lovers. The Canary Islands have a long history of winemaking, dating back to the 15th century when the islands were colonized by the Spanish. The islands were known for their sweet wines, which were exported to Europe and the Americas.
Several unique vine-growing methods are used, including cordón trenzado, or “braided cords” of vines in order to prevent from strong winds. The Canary Islands are known for their white wines, which are made from the local grapes Listán Blanco and Malvasía Volcánica. Red wines are also produced from the local grapes Listán Negro and Negramoll. Generally wine is made on seven of the eight main islands, having 10 Denominaciones de Origen Protegida (DOPs)— Abona, Tacoronte-Acentejo, Valle de Guimar, Valle de la Orotava, Ycoden-Daute-Isora, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma and Lanzarote.
The Canary Islands are home to some of the most renowned winemakers in the world. Some of the most famous producers include Bodegas Monje, Bodegas El Grifo, and Bodegas Viñátigo.
The phylloxera-free Canaries are among only a few places in the world to have ungrafted vitis vinifera vines.