There are many reasons to travel to Tenerife. Climbing Mount Teide, watching cetaceans in their natural habitat, getting to know the local gastronomy, bathing in beautiful volcanic beaches, enjoying the wonderful all-inclusive hotels in Tenerife … a whole set of experiences to live a dream vacation. But if you still haven’t experienced the wines of Tenerife, there is an exquisite side of the island that you are missing.
Tenerife wine dates back to the end of the 15th century when the first vines arrived on the island. The varied climate of the island and the special characteristics of its soil, of volcanic origin, allowed these plants to take root soon in Tenerife and quickly start producing large quantities. In addition, the Canary Islands enjoy a large number of grape varieties, having escaped the great phylloxera epidemic that devastated European vineyards at the end of the 19th century.
Tenerife wine dates back to the end of the 15th century when the first vines arrived on the island. The varied climate of the island and the special characteristics of its soil, of volcanic origin, allowed these plants to take root soon in Tenerife and quickly start producing large quantities. In addition, the Canary Islands enjoy a large number of grape varieties, having escaped the great phylloxera epidemic that devastated European vineyards at the end of the 19th century.
A fun fact is how in 1531, King Carlos I issued a decree in which all ships bound for the new world would have to take vineyards with them to be planted. There are currently 4 designations of origin in Tenerife with dozens of wineries included in each of them. These are Tacoronte-Acentejo, Ycoden-Daute-Isora, Valle de la Orotava, Valle de Güímar and Abona, the first being the one that produces the most.
Special mention should be made of Malvasia wine, which for a long time was the main economic engine of the island thanks to the export of this product to various countries in Europe, especially England, where many loved this variety. This wine came to be considered the best in the world, so all the European courts made large requests for it.
Another of the great attractions of Tenerife wine is the different forms of cultivation that stem from its extensive winemaking tradition, therefore nothing beats the Tenerife wine route to enjoy all available varieties and the most beautiful crops. A good time to do it is between the end of August and the beginning of October, during the grape harvest on the island.
Choose your hotel in Tenerife and take advantage of your Privilege Club membership benefits to maximize your experience at Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts. Visit our Travel Talk section to read more fun travel articles or go over the Concierge Recommends articles to learn more about the attractions outside the resort. Be sure to tag your vacation posts on social media with #VacationAsYouAre, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
