Canary Islands in focus: You can find these five wine regions in Tenerife

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, belongs to Spain and is located approximately 320 kilometers off the coast of West Africa. The holiday island, which hosts more than five million tourists every year, is one of the most visited destinations in Europe. Wine lovers will also get their money’s worth when visiting the island.

Over the last 20 years, many Canary Islands have been granted their own official winegrowing regions by Spanish authorities. Tenerife has the most, with five protected wine regions: Ycoden-Daute-Isora, Abona, Valle de la Orotava, Tacoronte-Acentejo and Valle de Güímar. Here’s everything you need to know about these five wine regions.

The small town of Icod de los Vinos is located in the north of the island and forms the center of approximately 1,350 hectares of vineyards. While vineyards used to be planted at lower altitudes along the coast, today most vineyards grow on volcanic slopes at slightly higher altitudes. In Ycoden-Daute-Isora, the white Listán Blanco grape, called Palomino on the Spanish mainland, is in its best form.

On the other side of the island is the Abona winegrowing region in the south of Tenerife. Mainly local grapes are grown here, although traditionally more emphasis has been placed on white wine production. Abona is home to some of the highest vineyards in Europe, with altitudes of up to 1,700 metres. In this winegrowing region, too, the Listán Blanco grape produces refreshing white wine, often grown organically.

Not only vineyards but also numerous other plants are grown in the tropical-looking Valle de la Orotava. For example, you will also come across banana and sugar cane fields. The entire territory is located on the northern slope of the famous Teide volcano. In Valle de la Orotava, you can find classic white and red wines, as well as fresh, fruity rosé wines.

With an area of ​​just over 1,700 hectares, the vines in Tacoronte-Acentejo grow on west-facing slopes, sometimes as high as 800 meters. Here too, local grape varieties set the tone for viticulture in Tacoronte-Acentejo, characterized by the dark Negramoll and Listán Negro grapes. This exciting wine-growing region is just 15 minutes’ drive from Tenerife’s northern airport. So why not take a quick snack break before the long return flight?

The last of Tenerife’s five official wine-growing regions is well hidden in the east of the island. Like Ycoden-Daute-Isora and Abona, this region is characterized by the Listán Blanco grape, which represents refreshing and dry white wines. Less frequently, you will also come across sweet white wines from the Malvasia and Moscatel grape varieties.

Source : Blick