Despite the close latitude to the equator and the scorching sun, six of the seven islands that make up the Canary Islands grow grapes, including Lanzarote.
Lanzarote: Island Wines Borne of Water, Wind and Fire
by Mary Kong-DeVito
Lanzarote is part of the Canary Islands, 80 miles off the coast of Africa. These beautiful islands were formed from hot, molten lava 15 million years ago during an era when wine didn’t exist. Truly terrible, terrible times. Despite the close latitude to the equator and the scorching sun, six of the seven islands that make up the Canary Islands grow grapes, including Lanzarote.
But you won’t find the standard grape varieties on Lanzarote. Instead, there are unique, indigenous varietals like Marmajuelo, Malvasia, Listán Negro, Negramoll, and Diego. Malvasia is a great alternative to Chardonnay, with a medium body and tropical fruit or dried fruit aromas. Diego is a white grape that is resistant to disease and contains high acidity. Listán Negro produces a Beaujolais-like wine that we now know is genetically identical to the Mission grape found in the U.S.
The wine farmers on Lanzarote painstakingly plant grape vines in round craters to get to the nutrient-rich topsoil that vines simply thrive in. Semicircular stone walls protect the vines from fierce trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean. Because of the extreme conditions found here, growing wine on Lanzarote is a labor of love that you can taste. Shop DCanter to find unique and delicious wines today!