The Winery El Penitente of Iles Canaries

Discovering the wine region of Iles Canaries

The archipelago of the Canary Islands (or Las Canarias) is an autonomous community of Spain located in the North Atlantic Ocean, 110 km from the west coast of Morocco. The wine trade there is far from famous - few local wines come out of the Canary Islands - but there is a Long and unique wine tradition in the region. The spectacularly high Canary Islands are located at a latitude of about 28°N, making it the most tropical wine region in Europe. It was thanks to this position, once traversed by naval trade routes, that the local wine industry flourished, shortly after the islands came under Spanish control in the early 15th century.

The region's famous Malmsey Sweet wine, made from the MalvasiaGrape, was extremely popular with the English, Dutch and Germans, but its popularity did not last. Today, very little local wine is exported, due to strong local demand and a thriving tourist industry. Ten areas were officially granted DO status in the 1990s and early 2000s. The Canary Islands are perhaps best known for their otherworldly landscapes and Warm temperatures that attract millions of tourists each year.