El Grifo Vijariego

La Geria is an extensive natural landscape of volcanic ash (5255.4 hectares) on the island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands), where people have managed to take advantage of this and turn it into an agricultural landscape dedicated to cultivating vines, fig trees and other fruit trees. However, growing fruit is by no means an easy task. The vine cultivation system here is completely unique. Local farmers plant the vines in deep cone-shaped holes and then build semicircular stone walls to protect them from the wind and conserve moisture. One of the wineries that has chosen to use this local system is El Grifo, the oldest in the Canary Islands and one of the most ancient in Spain. Located in the natural setting of La Geria, they cultivate local varieties, despite the difficult conditions, and as a result they make unique wines with a soul of their own.

The El Grifo Vijariego wine is made from the Vijariego grape variety. This grape that was introduced to the Canary Islands from Andalusia in the 16th century as a table grape or for raisining and is characterised by its late ripening. Pre-phylloxera vines between 80 and 100 years old are grown on volcanic ash and harvested by hand at the optimum point of ripeness. Once in the winery, after an extensive selection process, the must is pressed and vinified in the traditional way with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine remains there on the lees for about 3 months before bottling.

The fruit of a unique landscape, full of character and beauty, El Grifo Vijariego is a most exceptional white wine. A small gem with very limited production born from the perfect balance between man and nature.