Though, before diving into this month’s report, what strikes us at the moment is the lack of wine on the Island, and we still have 6 months until the release of the next vintage.  Many references are running out!  Several factors are behind this, but in essence demand is vastly outstripping supply!  As many of you will know, the last years have seen lower yields due to limited rainfall, and this has now coincided with a boom in tourism following the pandemic.  Remember 90% of Lanzarote wine is drunk within the Canaries, there isn’t much of this sweet nectar to begin with, and there’s even less that’s allowed to leave!

As we leave the month of April, it is like summer wants to be here, but winter still loiters. We are still witnessing some late rainfalls passing over Lanzarote, but you get a feel of change, as the next day can be glorious sunshine with its ever-increasing strength. Walking or hiking around the island in these months is a blessing, as wildflowers thrive and the hilltops turns green.

Visits to Lanzarote vineyards in these months is not to be missed, as an immense change in the vine growth can be observed week by week. The contrasts of La Geria light up, vivid blue skies, against the white buildings, the black Rofe (volcanic ash) and of course the now rapidly growing green vines.

Last month we looked closely at bud burst and the initial stages of vine growth. This month we will look closely as the grapevine enters its flowering stage. This is generally occurring around May in most northern hemisphere vineyards when the temperature averages at 15-20°C, but for us here in Lanzarote, we reach these temperatures a whole month or so, sooner.

We have seen during April the preflower clusters on the vines, progress to individual flower growth, where at this stage self-pollination and fertilization take place. This results in a grape berry being produced. The grape varieties here in Lanzarote are European vines (Vitis Vinifera) which domestically have hermaphrodite flowers. These are self-pollinating flowers which mean wind and insects play a very small part in pollination!

Fruit set begins immediately after flowering and the grape berry grows around the seed as a form of protection. These stages are very critical for yield. If flowers do not fertilize, they fall off due to factors such a heavy rain, cold, frost and high winds, leading to small quantities of grapes being produced. Luckily frosts aren’t an issue for us here, but late frosts for many of the continent’s vineyards are a huge threat at this time of year and you will see farmers going to great lengths to prevent this.

As a little update on Bodega El Grifo and their (and Europe’s) first ever winter harvest, they completed their collection near to Playa Quemada. They will be releasing a wine in the coming months by the name of Vino Atlantico and we will write a full article in due course.

This month, to truly taste spring, we’ve chosen El Grifo's Rosado wine as our go-to wine this month!

This wine is made from Lanzarote’s Listan Negro grapes and is characterized by its red fruit aroma, particularly strawberry. It’s a beautiful pale, bright and clean pink, and sits clean and fresh in your mouth, with an elegant and lasting finish. It’s a great option to pair with seafood, salads, or a vegetable roast.

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

Thanks for reading!