Tenerife has been making wine for more than five hundred years, and its vineyards are among the most unusual in Europe, growing in volcanic soil, on terraces and trained along the ground, with old vines that survived because phylloxera never reached the Canary Islands. The island has several wine regions, and the north is the most visited, with small wineries scattered across the slopes above the sea. Bodegas Monje, near El Sauzal on the north coast, is one of the best known and the easiest to visit. The tour takes you through the vineyard and the cellar, explains how the local grapes and the climate shape the wine, and ends with a tasting of several wines, and in the version we link to, local cheese. The setting is relaxed and personal, a working family winery rather than a corporate visitor centre, with a terrace that looks out across the north of the island. It is a good half-day outside the beach routine for travellers who like food and drink, and an easy addition to a day in the north.
How it works
The winery visit takes about two hours and combines a guided walk through the vines and cellar with a tasting, with cheese pairings in the version we link to. A second ticket type adds a workshop on mojo, the Canarian sauce served with wrinkled potatoes, if you want a more hands-on visit. Most visitors arrive by car or tour, since the winery is outside the main resort areas, and tastings are booked for set times, so check the schedule before you go.
What to expect
The guide explains the local grape varieties, the volcanic soils and the way vines are trained in the north, and the tasting covers a range of whites and reds that are rarely exported. The wines are quite different from mainland Spanish wines, with a mineral, volcanic character. The tour is conducted in English and Spanish, and the atmosphere is informal, so questions are welcome. The north can be cool and misty outside summer, and the vineyard walk is on uneven ground, so wear sensible shoes and take a light layer.
Making the most of it
If you are driving, plan to taste only a small amount or nominate a driver, and ask for a bottle or two to take home, since small producers rarely ship cheaply. Pair the winery with Puerto de la Cruz, the old harbour and the Orotava valley, or with the Icod dragon tree and Garachico on the same day. In the autumn, local wine taverns known as guachinches open in the north to sell the new wine, which makes a good, informal complement to a winery visit.
What to expect
The experience
A guided visit through the vineyard and cellar of a family winery in the north of Tenerife, followed by a wine and cheese tasting.
Best time
A dry day for the vineyard walk; the terrace views are best in clear weather, and the north is cooler outside summer.
How long
About two hours at set times, plus travel time from the resorts.
Tips
Wear shoes for uneven ground, share the driving or taste lightly, and ask about buying bottles to take home.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food and wine lovers who want to taste what the island produces and learn about its volcanic vineyards.
- Families
- Possible with older children, though the tasting is aimed at adults and the visit is quiet and informal.
- Couples
- A relaxed, unhurried afternoon with a terrace and a glass of local wine.
- Pair with
- La Laguna old town, the Orotava valley and Puerto de la Cruz, or the Icod dragon tree.
- Time needed
- About half a day including the drive.
Good questions
Where is Bodegas Monje?+
It is in the north of Tenerife near El Sauzal, on the slopes between La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz. It is easiest to reach by car or on a tour.
How long is the winery tour?+
The visit lasts about two hours, covering the vineyard, the cellar and a tasting with cheese pairings.
Is the wine of Tenerife any good?+
Tenerife wines have a distinctive, mineral character from the volcanic soils and use local grapes that are rarely grown elsewhere. A tasting is a good way to judge.
Is there a food option as well?+
The tour we link to includes cheese with the tasting, and another ticket type adds a mojo sauce workshop.
What are guachinches?+
They are informal home-run taverns in the north of the island that sell the new local wine with simple food, often open only for part of the year.
