The 7 Main Islands
| Island | DOs | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | 5 | Largest; Mount Teide |
| Lanzarote | 1 | La Geria; hoyos/zocos |
| La Palma | 1 | Vino de Tea (pine barrels) |
| El Hierro | 1 | Smallest DO; westernmost |
| Gran Canaria | 1 | "Miniature continent" |
| La Gomera | 1 | Newest DO (2003) |
| Fuerteventura | 0 | Too arid for vines |
Tenerife — 5 DOs
| DO | Year | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Tacoronte-Acentejo | 1992 | First Canarian DO; largest |
| Ycoden-Daute-Isora | 1994 | Highest vines on Tenerife (1,400m) |
| Valle de la Orotava | 1995 | Cordón trenzado training |
| Valle de Güímar | 1996 | Southeast; drier |
| Abona | 1996 | Spain's highest (1,700m) |
Key Grapes
White
Listán Blanco Most planted; = Palomino Fino
Malvasía Volcánica Historic; sweet "Sack"
Vijariego Blanco Indigenous; structured
Gual Marmajuelo Tenerife specialties
Forastera Blanca La Gomera dominant
Sabro Rare; El Hierro specialty
Black
Listán Negro 70% of reds; = País/Mission ancestor
Negramoll 2nd most; = Tinta Negra Mole
Tintilla Intense, age-worthy
Baboso Negro Rare; also in Ribeira Sacra
DO Lanzarote (1993)
| Location | Easternmost island; closest to Africa |
| Area | ~1,800 ha |
| Rainfall | ~150mm (driest island) |
| Malvasía Volcánica | 85% of plantings |
| UNESCO | Biosphere Reserve |
La Geria — Unique Viticulture
Hoyos/Zocos: Crater pits (up to 4m wide) excavated into volcanic picón (black lapilli) • Socos: Semicircular stone walls protecting each vine from wind • One vine per pit = extremely low density • No irrigation: Picón absorbs morning dew • Developed after 1730–1736 Timanfaya eruptions
DO La Palma (1994)
| Nickname | "La Isla Bonita" |
| Area | ~700 ha |
| Subzones | 3 |
| 2021 | Cumbre Vieja eruption (85 days) |
3 Subzones
Fuencaliente: South; Malvasía sweet wines
Norte de La Palma: North; Vino de Tea
Hoyo de Mazo: East; mixed
Vino de Tea
Aged in Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) barrels. Resinous, distinctive. Only La Palma can use this term.
Other DOs
| DO | Year | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| El Hierro | 1994 | Smallest (~200 ha); westernmost; Sabro grape |
| Gran Canaria | 2000 | "Miniature continent"; Monte Lentiscal |
| La Gomera | 2003 | Newest DO; Forastera Blanca (85%) |
VT Islas Canarias (2011)
Covers all 7 islands. Allows blending, experimentation. Wines from Fuerteventura must use VT.
Training Systems
| System | Location |
|---|---|
| Hoyos/Zocos | Lanzarote (crater pits) |
| Cordón Trenzado | Tenerife (braided cordons, up to 25m) |
| Rastras | Various (low-trailing braids) |
| En Vaso | Various (bush vines) |
Climate Features
Alisios: Trade winds; cooling + humidity
Mar de Nubes: Cloud layer at 800–1,500m
Calima: Hot Saharan wind
History Highlights
| Pre-1400s | Guanches (Berber origin) inhabited |
| 1402–1496 | Spanish conquest; vines arrive |
| 15th–16th c | Malvasía intro (Crete/Cyprus) |
| 16th–17th c | Golden age; "Canary Sack" |
| 1730–1736 | Timanfaya eruptions (Lanzarote) |
| 1992 | First DO (Tacoronte-Acentejo) |
| 2003 | Last DO (La Gomera) |
| 2021 | La Palma eruption (85 days) |
Shakespeare & Canary
"O knight, thou lack'st a cup of canary!" — Twelfth Night
Canary Sack / Malmsey: English names for sweet Malvasía wines. Beloved by English aristocracy. Also mentioned in Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry IV.
Decline
1665–1680: English trade restrictions + competition from Madeira/Jerez devastated the industry.
Why Ungrafted?
Volcanic, sandy soils + oceanic isolation = phylloxera never reached. All vines on original rootstock.
Winemaking & Styles
Winemaking
White: Stainless steel; fresh, aromatic
Sweet: Malvasía dried/fortified styles
Red: Limited oak; fruit-forward
Vino de Tea: Pine barrel aging (La Palma)
Key Statistics
• ~8,700 ha total vineyard
• 50% white wine production
• 100% volcanic soils
• 0% grafted rootstock
Modern Renaissance
Revival since 1990s; quality focus
| Suertes del Marqués | Tenerife; biodynamic |
| Envínate | Multiple islands |
| Borja Pérez | Ycoden-Daute-Isora |
| El Grifo | Lanzarote; est. 1775 |
Recognition
• International acclaim for terroir wines
• Focus on indigenous varieties
• Natural winemaking movement
Top Exam Points — Memorize These!
10 DOsMost of any Spanish community; Tenerife alone has 5 DOs
Ungrafted VinesPhylloxera never reached; volcanic/sandy soils protect
Listán Negro70% of reds; ancestor of País (Chile) and Mission (California)
Listán Blanco = PalominoMost planted white; genetically identical to Palomino Fino
La Geria / HoyosLanzarote crater pits in picón; 1730–1736 eruptions; UNESCO
DO Abona = 1,700mSpain's highest vineyards; southern Tenerife
Vino de TeaLa Palma; aged in Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis)
"Canary Sack"Shakespeare's Malvasía; Malmsey; 16th–17th c golden age