1 Diciembre, 2021 wine,cultural routes,gastronomy
Not sure what to do in Lanzarote? I will tell you the best way to get to know La Geria, its landscapes and all the culture behind it.
What better place than Lanzarote for a wine tasting?
La Geria is the main protagonist of the Lanzarote grape harvest. Not only does it produce some of the best wines in Europe, but its incredible landscape also cries out for a route to taste them. This souvenir wants to remind you of the flavours of that wine, the sea breeze, the sound of the rofe in your shoes, the smell of grapes and the incredible volcanic views that La Geria offers.
“The volcanic eruptions of Timanfaya between 1730 and 1736 produced an enormous expanse of "rofe" ash that covered the whole of La Geria and a large part of Lanzarote”
The rofe or picón not only gives its lunar aspect to La Geria, but it is also the main reason such an aromatic and sweet malvasia can grow in this arid place. Its porosity captures and stores any hint of ambient humidity, be it sea breeze or dew. That is why the farmers dig several metres into the rofe to plant a vine in the centre. Then, they cover the edges of the hole with stones to protect the plant from the wind, to create the "geria”.
Row after row of holes filled with the marvellous volcanic malvasia result in a peculiar landscape that bathes the slopes of the mountains, surrounded by the best wineries on the island of Lanzarote.
“The island's climate makes Lanzarote's grape harvest the first in Europe”
Most of the harvest will produce white, dry, semi-dry, sweet, crianza, sparkling or liqueur wines, although excellent reds and rosés are also made. If you are a wine lover, you can't leave Lanzarote without visiting the wineries in this protected area, to taste and soak up some of Lanzarote's oldest constructions.
My experience visiting La Geria
To calmly enjoy all the culture that surrounds the grape harvest in Lanzarote, the best way is to start the wine route from the south, starting in Uga. Visit the wineries that surround the road, taste the best wines of the island, admire the first buildings that were built, let yourself be captivated by the characteristic landscape that will accompany you throughout the route and for the more intrigued, visit the wine museum of El Grifo.
As a super climax, I recommend finishing your route at the monument to the peasant, a museum-restaurant where you can taste the typical gastronomy of Lanzarote.
By Yaiza Parra
Now you know one of the best cultural and gastronomic plans that Lanzarote offers you. Do not miss other plans you can do on the island in our blog's tourist guides.
This magnet of La Geria wants you to remember all those sensations, smells, flavours, colours, and even the architecture of such an important part of the island of Lanzarote.
“The most important element, a geria, made of black oak surrounded by stones protecting the vine, and of course, a glass of that volcanic malvasia broth”
