Lanzarote Bodegas: Your Complete Guide to the Wineries and Wines of a Unique Island
Lanzarote is an island where winegrowing has had to adapt to an extreme environment. After the volcanic eruptions of the 18th century, islanders came up with a method found nowhere else in the world: each vine is planted in a crater dug by hand into the layer of volcanic ash.
These holes, called “zocos”, do several vital jobs:
- They let the roots reach through the volcanic layer to the richer soil beneath.
- They capture and hold moisture from the air, especially the morning dew – the vines’ main source of water, since it hardly ever rains on the island.
- They protect the vines from the constant wind that blows across Lanzarote, helped by the small semicircular stone walls built around each zoco.
The result? A spectacular lunar landscape with hundreds of perfectly lined-up craters, and wines with a unique character, infused with minerals from the volcanic soil. Here are the must-visit bodegas in Lanzarote where you can taste these treasures and learn more about this incredible adaptation.
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And if you’re looking for a way to work up an appetite or a thirst, take a look at the activities I offer, all in small groups! Click here to see everything you can do.
