Varieties - Canary Wine

About Varieties Grown

Having avoided the phylloxera plague towards the end of the 19^th century, the Canary Islands are now considered a unique viticultural haven in the world and home to dozens of indigenous varieties. Grape variety images were kindly supplied by GMR Canarias

Our Varieties

Baboso Negro

A red grape variety that originally came to the Canary Islands via Alentejo, Portugal, where it’s known as Alfrocheiro. With small, compact bunches, Baboso Negro has a thin skin that breaks easily, leading to lower yields and a higher risk of rot in the vineyards. It’s grown predominantly in El Hierro and Tenerife.

LISTÁN BLANCO

The most widely planted grape variety in the Canary Islands, Listan Blanco is originally from Jerez de la Frontera, where it’s known as Palomino Fino. It thrives in the Canary Islands, where it’s able to adapt to different altitudes and micro-climates whilst still producing consistent yields, partly due to its natural resistance to disease.

MALVASIA VOLCANICA

A natural cross between Malvasía Aromática and Marmajuelo, mostly cultivated on the volcanic slopes of Lanzarote where it´s planted on fertile clay soils covered with volcanic lapilla. Malvasía Volcánica is a notably fruity wine, with touches of minerality on the palate.

MARMAJUELO

Mostly grown in Tenerife, El Hierro and La Gomera, Marmajuelo is being planted in many new vineyards due to its potential for the production of quality wines. Fragrant and persistent with notably high acidity, these wines can be intense and concentrated.

TINTILLA CASTELLANA

Tintilla doesn’t appear to have a genetic connection to any other grape in the region. Tintilla is a late ripening variety that produces low yields and tends to be grown at high altitudes; typically higher than 600 metres above sea level. It produces small bunches of grapes with darkly coloured, juicy berries.

VIJARIEGO BLANCO

When grown in El Hierro, where it is sometimes referred to as Verijadiego, and in the Northwest of Tenerife, it is the most acidic grape variety in the Canary Islands. This grape variety is entirely unique to the islands and has yet to be found anywhere else in the world.

ALBILLO CRIOLLO

A white grape variety that is particularly prized in La Palma, where it’s considered to be the island’s specialty. Increasingly, growers across the whole archipelago are celebrating the potential quality of Albillo Criollo. It´s famously found in Vinos de Tea in La Palma.

BURRABLANCA

Known in Spain as Airén, Burrablanca produces high yields and is found almost exclusively in Lanazarote and El Hierro. Burrablanca produces large bunches and is predominantly used for white blends.

FORASTERA GOMERA

Originally known as Forastera Blanca, it adapted its name to its spiritual home, as it’s cultivated almost exclusively on the island of La Gomera. On La Palma it’s known as Albillo Forastero. Varietally, Forastera Gomera produces young white wines with a notable floral profile, though it is also often used in white blends.

LISTAN PRIETO

There are few plantings of Listan Prieto, spread out across El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, where it grows with vigour. In the rest of the world it is known as Pais in Chile, Criolla in Argentina and Mission in the USA.

PEDRO XIMÉNEZ

Grown throughout Spain, Pedro Ximénez is valued for its ability to produce high yields of grapes with concentrated levels of sugar. It’s an ideal grape variety for the production of naturally sweet wines, or as a component in white blends, which is more common in the Canary Islands.

TORRONTÉS

Although there are records that suggest Torrontes has been grown in the Canary Islands since the 15th century, its modern day cultivation is largely new and experimental.

Baboso Blanco

A very rare grape, grown mainly in El Hierro between 300 and 700 meters above sea level. Fragile and difficult to grow, the few who do are rewarded with notes of apricots and tropical fruits, with great natural freshness.

Gual

A white grape variety that arrived in the Canary Islands from Madeira, where it’s more commonly known as Bual. Gual is an early ripening grape variety with medium sized bunches. It tends to be grown at lower altitudes in El Hierro, Tenerife and La Palma.

LISTÁN NEGRO

Commonly confused with Listán Prieto, studies show that Listán Negro is actually a natural crossing of Mollar Cano and Palomino Fino. The most planted red variety in the Canary Islands, Listán Negro has a natural affinity with the soils and micro-climates of Tenerife, where it produces strong yields of ripe grapes on its volcanic soils.

MALVASIA AROMATICA

First introduced to the Canary Islands in the 15^th century, is cultivated mainly in Tenerife and La Palma. Malvasía Aromática is at its most intense when produced as a sweet wine from late-harvested grapes.

MALVASIA ROSADA

Mostly grown in La Palma, Tenerife and La Gomera. It is used predominantly for the production of rosé wine.

NEGRAMOLL

A historically important grape in the Canary Islands and the second most planted red variety overall. Whilst it’s grown across the Canary Islands, it stands out in La Palma, where it is sometimes known as Mulata. It also excels in Tenerife and La Gomera. Producing irregular sized yields, Negramoll grows best at lower altitudes.

VERDELLO

Also grown in the North of Portugal and across Macaronesia (Azores, Maderia, Canarias and Cape Verde), Verdello is a variety with a short growing cycle, low yields and produces small clusters. Aromatically, Verdello is exotic and engaging, with aromas of lychee and quinche, balanced by naturally refreshing acidity.

VIJARIEGO NEGRO

Historically linked to vineyards in El Hierro, this grape variety is the same as Sumoll in Catalonia, and due to its adaptable nature it can be found throughout the Canary Islands. Despite this, Vijariego Negro tends to prefer cooler vineyards sites.

BREVAL

Breval

A white grape variety known as Breval on the islands and Beba on mainland Spain, where it was cultivated in Andalusia before the phylloxera plague. A white grape variety also known as Brevala on the islands and Beba on mainland Spain, where it was cultivated in Andalusia before the phylloxera plague. An early ripening variety, it produces its best wines on Gran Canaria, where it is often blended together with other white grape varieties to produce balanced, aromatic wines.

Tintilla CASTELLANA

Traditionally cultivated in Tegueste, Tenerife, together with Negramoll, Listán Negro and Tintilla, Tintilla Castellana is a vigorous red variety with a long growth cycle. It is most typically found in red blends alongside Listán Negro and is also known in the Canary Islands as Castellana Negra and in Portugal as Tinta Cao.

MOSCATEL DE ALEJANDRIA

Though grown throughout the islands, Moscatel de Alejandria stands out in the vineyards of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. It produces long, compact bunches with ripe, juicy berries. The wines are expressive and aromatic, with aromas of white flowers, fresh grapes and citrus fruits. It is also a multifaceted grape variety, able to produce dry, off-dry and sweet wines.

Sabro

A white grape variety, exclusively grown on La Palma, often alongside Gual and Malvasía. Sabro bunches are long yet compact, with bright yellow berries. Due its vibrant acidity, Sabro is normally vinified together with other white grapes in both dry and sweet wines.