Wine Lovers: Wine Tasting Tour at El Grifo Bodega Lanzarote

Lanzarote’s wine country looks unlike almost anywhere else in Spain. At El Grifo Bodega, vines grow in black volcanic soil, protected by small hollows and shaped by steady trade winds. You get to see how this unusual setting affects the grapes, then taste the results under the guidance of a professional sommelier.

I especially like the mix of old winery buildings and working vineyard knowledge, rather than a tasting that simply puts six glasses in front of you. The cheese pairing is another strong point, and the small groups, often as few as four and never more than 10, give you room to ask questions. The main consideration is transport: hotel pickup is not included, and arranging a taxi can be awkward from some parts of the island.

Key points to know before you book

• Six wines in one sitting: Taste a broad selection of El Grifo wines with local cheese and other small snacks.
• A winery dating to 1775: Visit the old winery and museum, with historic winemaking tools from the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Volcanic wine country: Learn how black volcanic soil and Lanzarote’s trade winds affect malvasia, listán negro, and syrah grapes.
• A head sommelier leads the experience: Guides such as Jacqueline, Jacky, Minerva, and Alexandra have led tours in Spanish and English.
• Small, adult-only groups: The two-hour experience is limited to 10 participants and is intended for people aged 18 and over.
• Good value for serious tasters and beginners: At $57 per person, the price covers the tour, six wines, cheese, and expert guidance.

Why El Grifo’s volcanic setting changes the wine

The first thing to understand is that Lanzarote is not a conventional vineyard destination. The island’s wine-growing conditions are tied closely to its volcanic ground and Atlantic weather, and that gives the tour a clear purpose beyond simply sampling local bottles.

At El Grifo, you learn about the role of trade winds and volcanic soils in the grapes. The tour focuses on malvasia, listán negro, and syrah, three varieties with different personalities and uses. Your guide explains how the growing conditions affect their aromas, colors, and flavors, giving you a better reason for tasting each wine rather than treating the glasses as interchangeable.

This is useful even if you know little about wine. Instead of being expected to recognize technical terms, you can connect the wine in your glass with the place where it was grown. If you already enjoy wine, the Lanzarote setting gives you something more unusual to consider: how a dry, windy island with volcanic ground can produce distinct wines from carefully tended vines.

The vineyard portion can also be one of the most revealing parts. You get a look at the growing methods and the full cycle from grape to bottle, rather than seeing only the polished tasting room. The exact route can vary, but the experience includes access to parts of the bodega and vineyard that are not always included in a basic visit.

The old winery and museum from 1775

El Grifo’s museum occupies the old winery, which operated from 1775 until it closed in the 1990s. It is described as the oldest winery of its type in the Canary Islands, and the age of the place gives the visit some real substance.

Inside, you can see tools and utensils used in the 19th and 20th centuries. These objects help explain how wine was made before modern equipment became standard. You are not just looking at old things for their own sake. The museum shows the labor and methods behind an island wine industry that operated for generations.

I like this part because it adds a human scale to the tasting. Modern wine tours can make production seem effortless, with spotless rooms and neatly labeled bottles. Here, the older equipment helps you picture the work involved and understand how the bodega changed over time.

The museum visit is brief, so you should not expect a long museum program or a full day of historical interpretation. That is a fair trade for a two-hour tour. You get enough context to understand El Grifo’s past, then move on to the vineyards and wines before the visit becomes repetitive.

Some tours also include a look at the family home or areas not open to regular visitors. Since the precise route may depend on the guide and the day, consider those sections a welcome bonus rather than a guaranteed feature.

Six wines, local cheese, and a guided tasting

The tasting is the central event. You sample six wines produced at El Grifo, with the head sommelier explaining what to look for in each glass. You are guided through the smell, color, and flavor rather than being left to judge the wine without context.

This approach works well for both experienced drinkers and beginners. If you are new to wine tasting, the sommelier can help you pay attention to simple things such as aroma, body, sweetness, and finish. If you already know your way around a wine list, you can ask more detailed questions about grape varieties, growing conditions, production, and food matching.

The wines include examples made from malvasia, listán negro, and syrah. Those grapes give the tasting a useful range, and the explanation of their characteristics keeps the six pours from blending into one long session.

Local cheese is served alongside the wine. Cheese can make a tasting more satisfying, but it also has a practical role: it gives you something to eat during the alcohol tasting and lets you see how food changes the flavor of a wine. Some tastings also include biscuits or chocolate, based on the selection provided on the day.

The pours are described as generous, and the tasting is presented in a professional setting. Still, you should pace yourself. Six wines over a short tour can add up, especially if you plan to drive afterward. Since transport is not included, arrange your return before you arrive if you are staying far from the bodega or coming from the cruise port.

What the head sommelier adds

The guide makes a noticeable difference here. Guides named in the experience feedback include Jacqueline, often called Jacky, Minerva, and Alexandra or Alessandra. The specific guide depends on the date, but the tour is designed to be led by someone with professional wine expertise.

That matters because a bodega visit can easily become a string of memorized facts. A strong sommelier can answer questions as they arise, explain unfamiliar terms in plain English, and adjust the pace for the group. This experience is especially well suited to curious beginners because the presentation is accessible rather than stiff or overly technical.

You should expect English or Spanish guiding. The small group size, capped at 10, gives you a better chance to ask about a particular bottle, grape, or food pairing. Some sessions may be much smaller, with only four people, which makes the conversation more personal.

The guide also helps tie the parts together. You first learn about the old winery and the island’s wine-making past, then see the growing conditions, then taste the wines. That order makes the tasting feel like the final step in a story, not a separate sales pitch.

Is $57 a fair price?

At $57 per person, this is not the cheapest way to taste Lanzarote wine. It is also more than a simple glass or bottle purchase at a restaurant. The price includes a two-hour guided visit, access to the old winery and museum, six wines, local cheese, and a professional sommelier.

For me, that makes the price reasonable if you care about how wine is made. You are paying for context, not only for alcohol. The tour also offers a small-group format, which is usually more useful than a large tasting where questions are difficult.

The value is strongest if you are already planning to visit the bodega. You get an organized introduction to El Grifo, a guided look at the property, and a structured tasting without needing to arrange separate activities. It is also a good choice for couples or friends who want an afternoon activity that does not revolve around beaches or sightseeing in towns.

The calculation changes if you do not drink wine or dislike tastings. The museum and vineyard sections are worthwhile, but the experience is built around six pours. A non-drinker can still enjoy the setting and explanation, yet the price makes the most sense for someone who wants to taste the wines.

There is also a practical saving for buyers: discounts on shipping to European countries are included. That can matter if you find a favorite bottle but do not want to carry several bottles through the rest of your holiday. Check the current shipping terms at the bodega before relying on this as your main reason to book.

Planning your two hours at El Grifo

The activity lasts about two hours, and starting times vary. Check the available departure times when booking so the visit fits with your other plans.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You need to make your own way to El Grifo Bodega, and arranging a taxi can be difficult from the cruise port. If you are arriving by ship, do not leave transport until the last minute. A return taxi can also take planning, particularly if you are visiting at a quieter time.

The tour is for adults aged 18 and over. Children cannot join, so this is not a family activity for mixed-age groups. It works better as a couple’s outing, a friends’ afternoon, or a solo visit for someone interested in wine and local food.

Wear something comfortable for walking around the bodega and vineyard areas. The provided information does not specify a dress code or detailed accessibility arrangements, so contact the provider if you need particular assistance.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. That is useful when your Lanzarote schedule depends on weather, rental-car plans, or port timings.

Who will enjoy this bodega tour most

I would recommend El Grifo to you if you want to understand Lanzarote through its food and drink. The tour gives you a clear local subject, a historic setting, and a tasting that makes the island’s growing conditions easy to discuss.

It is also a strong pick for wine beginners. You do not need to arrive with a trained palate. The sommelier-led format gives you a way to taste with purpose, and the cheese makes the session relaxed rather than formal.

Experienced wine drinkers should find enough variety in the six wines and enough detail in the grape and soil discussion to justify the visit. The setting is more distinctive than a standard urban tasting room, and the old winery adds a layer that you cannot get from buying a bottle alone.

I would think twice if you have a tight schedule, no reliable transport, or little interest in wine. The tour lasts two hours, but the journey to and from the bodega can add more time. If you are coming from the cruise port, transport needs special attention.

The small details that make the visit work

Several practical touches improve the experience. The group limit of 10 keeps the guide close, and small sessions can feel almost like a private introduction. The English and Spanish options also make it easier to follow the technical parts without losing the story.

The food pairing helps the tasting feel generous. Local cheese gives you a simple way to compare wines, while biscuits or chocolate may appear alongside the formal pairing. The bodega shop gives you the chance to buy bottles afterward, and shipping discounts to European countries can help if you do not want to pack wine in your luggage.

A café is also available after the tour, according to the experience details shared by participants. If you have time, you can use it to sit down with a light snack or another glass of wine. Treat that as an optional extra, since the tour price covers the guided visit, six wines, and cheese, not an extended café meal.

The tone is generally friendly and engaging, but the quality of any guided experience depends partly on the person leading it. El Grifo has several guides who speak highly of the wines and explain the growing methods clearly. If your guide is particularly enthusiastic, allow time for questions. That is where the small group format pays off.

Should you book El Grifo?

Book this tour if you want more than a quick tasting. The old winery, museum tools, vineyard visit, volcanic soil discussion, and six-wine flight give you a proper introduction to Lanzarote’s wine culture in about two hours.

At $57, I see it as a good-value special-interest outing, especially with the cheese pairing and small group. It is not the right choice for children, non-drinkers who want a broad sightseeing tour, or anyone who cannot arrange transport easily.

For the best experience, book a time that leaves room for the journey, arrange your return in advance, and plan to ask questions. If you enjoy local food, unusual growing conditions, and a tasting with a real sense of place, El Grifo is an easy addition to a Lanzarote itinerary.

FAQ

How long does the El Grifo wine tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

How many wines are included?

The experience includes a tasting of six wines produced at El Grifo Bodega.

Is cheese included with the wine tasting?

Yes. Local cheese is included with the wine tasting. Additional small snacks such as biscuits or chocolate may also be served.

What grapes will I learn about?

The tour covers malvasia, listán negro, and syrah grapes, including how Lanzarote’s trade winds and volcanic soils affect them.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide can lead the tour in English or Spanish.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to 10 participants, making it a small-group experience.

Can children join the tour?

No. The experience is for adults aged 18 and over.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must arrange your own transportation to and from El Grifo Bodega.