History

In 1497, Portugal's Fernando de Castro planted the first grapevine on Tenerife soil, attracted by the fertility of its volcanic land. Little did he know that his crops were the start of a wealthy wine-making culture that lives on to this day. By the 16th century, Tenerife's wines were being exported to Europe from the north of the Island and were loved by such prestigious figures as Shakespeare and Walter Scott, both of whom included references to the Island's wines in their work.

Between the 17th and 18th century, the wine industry on the Island suffered a downturn. In 1663, Madeiran wines and Port took over the British market, which was the main consumer of Canarian wines. Decades later a volcanic eruption would destroy the port of Garachico where the boats used to set sail loaded with wine towards Europe.

In 1985 the Island was awarded its first designation of origin for its Tacoronte-Acentejo wines, which once again boosted the wine sector in Tenerife. The Island currently has six designations of origin, with wines produced in over a hundred different wineries.