spanish wines - Canarias

Jesús Méndez wants to give autochthonous Canarian cépages that are almost extinct a face back with his Viñátigo project. All his wines are vinified in very limited volumes. 'Pie franco' on volcanic substrates. Blend of ungrafted native white varieties from the Canary Islands. The selected varieties and proportions vary from year to year depending on the harvest. The Listan Negro grapes come from ungrafted vines more than 100 years old. Grown between 500 and 900 metres above sea level, in north-western Tenerife. Young volcanic soils, with good drainage and very rich in minerals.

Lomo de la Era 2024 is a single-vineyard white wine from Viñátigo, from Cruz Santa on the western side of the La Orotava Valley. It is made from Listán Blanco grown on old vines trained in the traditional Cordón Trenzado system. At 500 metres above sea level and under the influence of the Atlantic trade winds, the vineyard produces a fresh white wine with a distinct volcanic character.

Maipé de Taganana is a single-vineyard white wine from Viñátigo, from Taganana in the Anaga mountains in the northeast of Tenerife. The wine comes from one old vineyard planted mainly with Listán Blanco on volcanic soils. The name maipé is a local corruption of malpaís, literally meaning infertile land. The vineyard lies among volcanic rocks and was partly buried under stones after a rockfall in the early 20th century. Production is limited to just 1,300 bottles.

Viñátigo produces single-varietal wines from indigenous grape varieties that had largely disappeared from the scene. Ungrafted vines on volcanic soils. This Ancestral is made in an old-fashioned way and is definitely a wine for true wine geeks… The Gual comes from Finca San Juan Degollado and Finca Mazapé. The vines are ungrafted. Gual was the first of the nearly extinct indigenous grape varieties of the Canary Islands that Juan Jesús set out to recover. Finca San Juan Degollado is located near Garachico, at 160 metres above sea level. Finca Mazapé lies in San Juan de la Rambla, on a cliff overlooking the sea, at 150 metres above sea level. Both plots are situated in the north-west of Tenerife. The young volcanic soils are well drained and very rich in minerals. The soil at San Juan Degollado originates from the erosion of the coastal cliffs of La Culata, which border the plot. Because of the mountainous terrain, the vineyard is divided into centuries-old terraces. These terraces also help prevent the fertile soils from sliding away.

Viñátigo makes mono-varietal wines with local grapes that are almost extinct. This Ancestral Tinto is made with the grapes of un-grafted vines and vivified "the good old way". For the real wine fans.

Jesús Méndez revives the old ungrafted vines of the volcanic terroirs of the Canary islands, often long forgotten. This cuvée blends 4 white varietals and its production is only 800 bottles.

Jesús Méndez wants to give autochthonous Canarian cépages that are almost extinct a face back with his Viñátigo project. All his wines are vinified in very limited volumes. Assemblage of ungrafted red varieties native to the Canary Islands, the proportions of which vary each year depending on the growing cycle. The varieties used to make this blend are usually Negramoll, Tintilla, Vijariego Negro and Baboso Negro. Young and old volcanic soils, with good drainage and very rich in minerals. Some areas are the result of recent volcanic eruptions and are rather sandy. Other areas, like the plots in the El Palmar valley, are from the Teno massif, one of the oldest parts of the island and with more clay. Vines grow from sea level to 1,000 metres altitude. +-3500 bottles production.

Marmajuelo is one of Tenerife's most unsung varietals. This cuvée - a 100% Marmajuelo- is one of the fruitiest wines of this island. The grapes come from Finca Los Parrales, in Garachico, at 160 m above sea-level, and Finca Mazapé, on a 160m-cliff overlooking the Ocean, in San Juan de la Rambla. These two parcels lay in the North-West of Tenerife, on young, mineral-rich volcanic soils with a good drainage.

Negramoll is the main grape used in Tenerife to make everyday consumption wine. Yet, if one check its yield and pays attention to the winemaking, this varietal can produce vinous and very interesting wines. The production of this cuvée is only 4,500 bottles.

100% Tintilla from Finca Laderas de Teno. Ungrafted vines. The Laderas de Teno plot is located in north-west Tenerife at 700 metres above sea level. Located in the El Palmar valley, in the Teno nature reserve. The vineyard consists of 33 terraces, starting at the foot of a volcano in the middle of the valley. Geologically, this is one of the oldest areas on the island, the result of the first volcanic eruptions. The clay soil is an evolution of the degradation and erosion of the Teno massif. Total production of only 7,000 bottles.

Viñátigo makes mono-cépage wines from indigenous grape varieties that have somewhat disappeared from the scene. 'Pie franco' planted on volcanic soils. Vijariego Blanco is the grape variety with the highest acidity in the Canary Islands. It also has very good adaptability in various environments. The plots are located in the villages of San Juan de la Rambla, La Guancha and Icod de los Vinos, in north-western Tenerife. Because of its good adaptability to different environments, plantings are between 200 and 1000m. Young volcanic soils, mainly sandy. Total production of only +- 3000 bottles.

Grand Cruz del Calvario is Bimbache's most extreme vineyard, on the North Coast of El Hierro, where the Atlantic influence is the most obvious. The wines coming from this windy and humid area is naturally low in alcohol but has a high acidity. What a structure!

Benje is the name of a nearby crater which the Listan Prieto comes from, near Santiago del Teide (Tenerife). The vines are located some 1,000 metres above sea level.

With this project, Jesús Méndez wants to revive the old disappearing Canarian grapes. All his wines are produced in very limited quantities.