This island is famous for its volcano, the Teide, which is Spain highest mountain (3,700 m).
Tenerife comprises a great variety of soils and microclimates. Even in the small area covered by the D.O. (3.193 hectares), the differences are huge.
The altitude of the vines varies between 50 and 1,700 m (which explains the thermal amplitude); a small part of them are on the southern side, where the climate is warmer and dryer, and the greater part are on the northern side, which is more Atlantic and more humid.
But what makes Tenerife a real unique vineyard, in comparion to the Spanish mainland, is the composition of the soils.
These are volcanic, made of petrified ashes and volcanic rocks. They are acidic and rich in organic elements.
The local viticulture has received a new impulse with the creation of the D.O. in 1990.
Listan Blanco (aka Palomino) and Listan Negro are still the most planted grapes, but spurred by dynamic estates like Viñátigo, long forgotten varieties have regained some importance, which is good both commercially and culturally.