For this instalment we will be explaining a little about what is happening outside in the vineyards, but also back in the wineries will investigate the world of blending.
Here in Lanzarote we have finally received some of the rain we have all been waiting for. As the east winds start to back off, we can get some heavy cloud and if we are lucky, some rainy days.
Out in the Vineyards in La Geria this time of year the vines are pruned back and ready to start their new canopy. If you look closely in some vineyards you will start to see some tiny green shoots appearing. At this point it is important the vine has its space to grow, here in Lanzarote the hoyos (pits) in which the vine grows must be dug out and clear enough so that the vine is not suffocated by volcanic ash. Sometimes after our stormy days rebuilding some of the walls which protect the vine from the wine can also be a big job.

In last month’s edition January in the Vineyards we dove into more complex wines, using techniques like malolactic fermentation. This month we will stay on the same track of making wines more complex, but by the use of blending. This is the beautiful point where a winemaker’s creativity is absorbed into the wine. The art of blending wines comes with years and years of failing and succeeding and building the winemakers experience, a mixture of technical analysis and tasting. Some blends of wine can go through more than 50 experimental trials before the winemaker’s recipe is complete. A blend will change throughout the years as nature and weather make the build-up of the grapes, so each year the complexity and analysis of the grapes can change. Blending wines is not only about mixing grape varieties, it also can involve blending vintages from previous years, or blending aged wines. A great example we have here in Lanzarote is a wine by the name of Ariana by Bodega El Grifo. This is fantastic idea of taking the rustic, smoke flavours and aromas of Lanzarote´s local grape Listan negro and blending it with a barrel aged Syrah wine which gives it much more body and complexity.

Amidst the stormy UK winter months, Ariana wine serves as our loyal companion! That’s why it’s the perfect Wine of the Month.

Named after the winemaker’s daughter, El Grifo’s Ariana is a full-bodied dry wine that will surely warm up these cold nights.It’s a blended wine, made 70% from Lanzarote’s native Listán Negro red grape and 30% El Grifo’s home grown Syrah grape. As a result, Ariana is a beautiful coupage of Lanzarote´s Atlantic character with a varietal more familiar to barrel aging. Thanks to this, the wine is aged in French oak for up to 6 months, and results in a wine of greater complexity and a delicious balance of fruit and oak character
This wine was produced in 2017 and has an alcohol level of 13.8%. Its colour is of a mid-intensity deep and rich ruby and has an aroma of red and black fruits with hints of toasted toffee and caramel. It’s fresh and balanced in mouth, with ripe tannins and a long persistent finish. It’s a great wine to pair with a selection of grilled meat or red game.

As always, this wine is available to buy in the UK and Ireland through our online store Wine Shop Lanzarote where the stock is based in the UK!

Thanks for reading!