Lanzarote’s volcanic interior holds one of the most dramatic wine landscapes in Europe, where black cinder fields give way to rows of low-lying vines sheltered by hand-built stone walls. At the heart of this terrain lies La Geria Lanzarote, a Protected Landscape that rewards those who make the journey with an experience unlike anything else in the Canary Islands. Whether you are staying in Puerto del Carmen or Arrecife, reaching this remarkable region is straightforward, and a visit to Bodegas EL GRIFO makes the drive all the more worthwhile.
At a glance
- La Geria in Lanzarote is a unique Protected Landscape where vines are grown in volcanic ash pits surrounded by protective stone walls.
- Visitors can reach the historic Bodegas EL GRIFO from Puerto del Carmen in about ten minutes or from Arrecife in approximately twenty minutes.
- Founded in 1775, Bodegas EL GRIFO is one of the ten oldest wineries in Spain and features rare, ungrafted vines over a century old.
- The winery utilizes sustainable practices, including organic viticulture and a system that captures CO2 generated during the fermentation process.
- Guests can explore the estate through guided tours, audioguide experiences available in five languages, and visits to the on-site Wine Museum.
- The bodega is open from Monday to Friday, and it is recommended to book experiences in advance through the official website, elgrifo.com.
How to Reach La Geria Lanzarote from Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife
Planning your route is simple, and the roads that cross central Lanzarote are rewarding in their own right. The winery is located at LZ-30, Km 11, 35559 San Bartolomé, Las Palmas, sitting alongside the road that runs between Uga and Mozaga, right at the edge of the La Geria Protected Landscape. For any enquiry before your visit, the bodega can be reached on +34 928 52 40 36.
From Puerto del Carmen: a Short Drive Along the LZ-504 and LZ-30
Visitors staying in Puerto del Carmen will find that EL GRIFO is just a short drive away. Head north out of the resort and join the LZ-504, which carries you inland through the southern part of the island. After a few kilometres, you connect with the LZ-30, and the La Geria vineyard landscape opens up around you almost immediately, the journey takes roughly ten minutes in total. The transition from coastline to volcanic interior is striking, and by the time you arrive at the bodega, the scenery has already set the tone for the visit.
From Arrecife: the LZ-20 to San Bartolomé, Then the LZ-30 Through the Volcanic Landscape
From the island’s capital, the most practical route takes you south-west along the LZ-20 towards the town of San Bartolomé, then onto the LZ-30 as it winds through the dark picón fields of La Geria. The drive from Arrecife takes approximately twenty minutes and passes through some of the most distinctive countryside on the island, with volcanic cones rising on the horizon and the black earth stretching out in every direction. It is worth giving yourself a moment to take in the landscape as you approach, because it offers a genuine sense of what heroic viticulture means in practice.
What Awaits You at Bodegas EL GRIFO in the La Geria Protected Landscape
Founded in 1775, Bodegas EL GRIFO stands as one of the ten oldest wineries in Spain, with a history of more than 250 years woven into the volcanic soil of central Lanzarote. The island itself is recognised as a Biosphere Reserve, and the bodega sits to the east of Timanfaya National Park, in a landscape shaped by eruptions that began in September 1730. The vines here grow in pits dug into the picón, the volcanic ash layer that absorbs moisture from the night-time dew and retains it, allowing the plants to thrive without irrigation. A low stone wall surrounds each individual vine, shielding it from the trade winds and the fierce Canarian sun. Because phylloxera never reached the island, the bodega tends ungrafted vines, some of them more than a century old, a rarity in the wine world. Native varieties such as Malvasía Volcánica, Listán Negro and Vijariego Blanco are cultivated here, and the estate also produces ancient sweet wines with a character entirely their own.
The commitment to sustainability runs through everything the bodega does, from organic vineyards and regenerative viticulture to an Oresteo system that captures and reuses the CO₂ generated during fermentation. Research into indigenous yeasts, the aromatic profile of Malvasía Volcánica, and the adaptation of the vine to a changing climate is ongoing on the estate.
Guided Tours, Audioguide Experiences and Tastings at One of the Ten Oldest Wineries in Spain
There are several ways to explore the bodega, depending on how much time you have and how deeply you wish to engage with the wine culture of La Geria Lanzarote. Guided tours and oenotourism experiences with a commented tasting are available in Spanish and English, and booking in advance through elgrifo.com is recommended to secure your preferred time. Alternatively, a self-guided visit with an audioguide on your own phone is available in five languages (Spanish, English, French, Italian and German) and includes a commented tasting of two wines. The audioguide is detailed and well produced, making it a genuinely informative option for independent visitors.
Within the estate, the Wine Museum is housed in the original bodega building, where a historic press and the founding stone dated 1775 can be seen. A cactus garden greets visitors at the entrance, while a terrace provides a relaxed setting in which to continue a tasting after the visit. The wine bar and boutique on site allow you to taste and purchase bottles to take home, and wines are also available for delivery across Europe through elgrifo.com. During the summer harvest season, Harvest Experiences offer a more immersive way to engage with the annual cycle of winemaking.
Planning Your Visit: Opening Hours, Booking and Getting the Most from Your Day in La Geria
Bodegas EL GRIFO
LZ-30, Km 11, 35559 San Bartolomé, Las Palmas
Téléphone : +34 928 52 40 36
Bodegas EL GRIFO is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:30. Visits and experiences admit their last guests at 17:15, so it is worth arriving with enough time to make the most of whichever experience you have chosen. The bodega is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. To plan your visit or make a reservation, the team can be reached on +34 928 52 40 36, or you can book directly at elgrifo.com. Whether you are a seasoned wine enthusiast or simply curious about the story behind La Geria vineyard and its extraordinary volcanic wines, a weekday visit to this historic estate offers a memorable and genuinely educational experience in one of Lanzarote’s most distinctive landscapes.
