The initiative “Maridaje Gran Canaria: Rural Innovation and Cooperation”, promoted by Etnoexperience Canarias, has brought together professionals from the primary sector, hospitality, and tourism to explore the island's identity. The project draws inspiration from the cultural initiative Maridaje, which uses wine, music, and sensory narrative as outreach tools.
The first stop was at Bodega San Juan, in the Bandama area. Here, visitors learned about the family's wine tourism project, featuring organic vineyards of native Canarian grape varieties and the Wine Museum. The visit concluded with a tasting of their Listán Negro wine from the El Reventón plot, paired with Canarian cheeses.
The itinerary continued to Camaretas, San Mateo, to experience the vineyards of Bien de Altura. Located over a thousand meters high, these vineyards, led by sommelier Alba Bernal and winemaker Carmelo Peña, cultivate centuries-old native varieties like Listán Negro and Listán Prieto. Tastings of their Ikewen and Elemento wines clearly conveyed the essence of their origin.
The gastronomic route led to La Solana, to the emblematic Bochinche La Montaña. Here, specialties such as garbanzada, gofio escaldado, and almond mojo were sampled, accompanied by the house wines and guided by Jerónimo Marrero, who shared the establishment's history.
The final stop was at Bodegas Bentayga, producer of Agala wines. The tour of their facilities, situated in a unique territory, highlighted their well-designed winery and event spaces. The brand actively promotes wine tourism with experiences linked to sunsets and astronomical observation.
The itinerary concluded with a sensory pairing experience, uniting Agala Altitud 1318 and Agala Altitud 1190 Dulcelena wines with musical compositions from the Maridaje project. Pieces like Vida, Nana, Tierra, Quizá, Ojalá, and Lágrima completed an interpretive journey designed to convey the emotions, landscapes, and values associated with Gran Canaria's winemaking.
This journey revealed a different, less obvious Gran Canaria, proud of its producers who uniquely blend tradition and innovation. The day made it clear that the island's wine is not just to be drunk, but also walked, heard, enjoyed, and remembered.
