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Made from Recycled Words

This was all kick started and influenced by guests on our own Wine Tour. Luckily in my line of work I get to meet a lot of different people from all over the world and we speak about a wide variety of things. Among many topics we regularly seem to talk about and which appear in my day to day life are… bioproducts. Companies…manufacturers…families re-using waste products, something at first, I didn’t pay much attention to, until I realised it was everywhere I looked.
Firstly, let’s look at what is a bioproduct. Bioproducts are products that are made from biomass, which includes such things as crops, trees, wood wastes, aquatic plants and grasses. This sustainable approach considers the entire product life cycle from its agricultural origin to its ability to be renewed or reused.
Pressed grapes on the way to being used as compost

To start this journey, I take you into the wine world…something we all share a passion about here at Wine Tours Lanzarote.

Here on the Island you will by now know they make a lot of good wine, so naturally there will be a waste product in such a big industry. In this case the main product is grapes, more to the point, the skins, pips, stems and any leftovers. This is a bioproduct which has always been used as far as I can dig back, to farmers re-using it as a natural fertilizer, animal feed and even making a spirit (not typical in Lanzarote), and in recent days, more interestingly...
Vinoterapia
Put down your wine...there is a new way to enjoy wine…just kidding, we would never make you put down a glass of wine!
Nao Island Brewing Lanzarote

Vinoterapia shower gel, shampoo & firming oil

Here in Lanzarote, keep your eyes open for a company called Lanzaloe. Recently they have branched out their research into wine therapy. Taking the Malvasia Volcanica grape after the winemaking process and using its properties from the pulp, skin and pips to develop over 12 different products, including bath salts, soaps, body oils, shampoos, anti-ageing creams and deodorants.
Each product is rich in polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants that neutralise free radicals, preventing skin cellular damage.

For more information on these products, have a look at their online shop.

Lanzarote Craft Beers

First stop Cerveza Nao.  Cerveza Nao is one of Lanzarote’s top breweries we visit on our Craft Beer Tours, producing around 50,000 litres of craft beer per year.  They brew IPA´s, APA´s, grape ales, blonde beers and have done collaboration brews, the most recent with Mondo Brewing Co. in London.  We met up with owner and head brewer Miguel Lasso to find out where his used grain ends up.

Nao Island Brewing Lanzarote

Nao Island Brewing Lanzarote

After cooking the grain, the first sugars are released which are used for brewing the beer, but soon after they filter out the grain.  This is then taken and delivered to local farms around Tinajo and Guatiza, approximately 300-500kg per week.  Sometimes they get pork and eggs delivered to the brewery in exchange!

10 minutes up the road we visit the first brewery here on the Island, Los Aljibes de Tahiche.

Opening up in 2014, Gavin and Henan are the brewers and owners delivering more than 30,000 litres of craft beer per year, in a variety of styles.

Similarly, the brewers at Los Aljibes take their used malts after the sparging process and deliver them to local farmer Francisco for his pigs, goats and chickens. The animals still love the grain even after the majority of sugars have been extracted. 

The people of Lanzarote have long been known for their sustainability and adaptability, and it´s great to see that continuing in our industries today.  If you would like to find out more, then why not join us on one of our tours.

Hope to see you soon!

Dan Priestley

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