Why we fell in love with Lanzarote and the most incredible vineyards.
Our choice of where to go for the next trip fell on the Canary Islands because of Lanzarote. Namely vineyards, which are grown here in a surprising way. We’ve already told that 32 volcanoes were erupting on Lanzarote for 6 years in succession nearly 300 years ago! It’s incredibly long! Once there was fertile land and grapes grew, and even after the ground being covered with a thick layer of lava winemaking business is still running here!
The Grape valley is located in the center of Lanzarote. You can see strange pits with green bushes inside among craters and hardened lava.
A year after accidentally seeing the picture of these grape fields, we ended up here.
This unique method of growing grapes is cultivated only on Lanzarote and nowhere else in the world. Local people were forced to make use of their creativeness and take risks, thinking over how to survive on the earth burnt by the volcano. They dug deep pits to get to the fertile land. Protection made of stones defends from strong winds. And where does the water come from? Rain here is a quite rare occasion for celebration, less than once a year. But the land is covered with picon – volcanic rock absorbing moisture at night, and preventing evaporation during the day moisturizing grapes in such a way.
There are 23 wineries on the island. They make red, pink, and white wines.
But red wines are extremely strange; probably that’s why they are sold less.
Fortunately, you can come to the vineyards whenever you want to. There’s something for free on this island 🙂
We immediately went to the most popular El Geria bodega (winery) to taste the intriguing wines.
The bottle price is 8-9 €. You can buy a tasting set consisting of three types of wine for 3 or 5 €.
They also make body care cosmetics of grapes.
We tasted and decided to buy the pink vine.
All the houses are white on the island and there’re no advertising billboards at all.
We came another morning to the grape fields again because we failed to get to the Timanfaya Park with craters in those early hours.
People dig these pits manually, and then take care of the grapes by hands, in each pit separately.
This landscape is unlike any other and thus it’s striking!
We called in another bodega the other day. The largest and oldest winery El Grifo. There’s a museum in the area designed by César Manrique. Entrance with tasting of 6 wines is worth 11 € for two.
Such a beautiful terrace! Minimum concrete and artificiality, like all of César’s pieces of work, revealing total harmony with nature.
The range of wines in the El Grifo winery is tremendous; we poked fingers in the list to select just 6 for tasting.
Red wines are very strange, like something corrupted in the barrel. And white wines are quite tasty.
There is a youth camp called La Santa in the center of the island. We lived a little forth from it and once while driving past it we came across surfing festival. So many people, cars, and paparazzi were then.
We as well came across one of the few more or less nice modern facilities.
A meal for two, not enough to eat head off consisted in chicken patties, several pieces of octopus tentacles, Fuerteventura cheese, and Canary potatoes. All these with sauce and olives. And rolls with mojo sauce as an appetizer. All these along with the water made up 18 €. We buy half of the food in a supermarket for that amount 🙂
And we lived near the noisy ocean among white houses in Caleta del Caballo, far from all the other towns.
Washed clothes with the ocean freshness )
We lent a board for surfing from the apartment mistress and were taking photos on the roof.
It was hard to do this photo shoot: from pulling a mattress over to the roof to strong wind constantly mussing the hair 🙂 But the result was cool!
LIVING NEAR THE OCEAN.
Our last accommodation was located on the north-west of Lanzarote in a small town, not a resort, 100-200 m over the stormy ocean.
Strong wind’s inherent to the ocean. It creates large waves, and they consequently make noise. Constantly, unrestrainedly. It can be compared to the noise of cars on a crowded highway. Of course there is another noise of waves during relatively quiet calm. Then it’s calming and lulling. But it’s absolutely different here.
These sounds of the ocean always reminded us where we lived. It’s unnoticed awash in the shower or while inside this house but should we reach the roof terrace or be near an open window – the sound of the ocean is always audible. And it can still be seen on your window as salt and water covering all the glass with white opaque curtain. Yeah, ocean waves reach the house. Old wooden windows and doors dry up or expand due to moisture, the facade riffles.
Living near the ocean is invaluable and interesting experience. But it certainly isn’t the most beautiful place.
Constant wind, noise, lack of potable or even rain water. Most people always hold their windows closed to take shelter from hot and bright sun.
That’s just the other side of the coin.
When we left for the airport in the morning, we were lucky to watch incredible sky colors. It’s so interesting to see and experience live.
So Lanzarote bade farewell to us. We were completely captured by it and were happy to be here!
Useful information about Canary Islands:
How to travel between the Canary Islands: Ferry and Aircraft
How to rent a car on Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
More about Lanzarote:
Another Canary Islands:
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, Fuerteventura
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