AtoZ: wine tour at Bodegas Monje, Canary Islands
Our first trip with our baby took us to Tenerife, Canary Islands. Tenerife is a great family destination and during our stay, we wanted to try local food and of course the local wine. Did you know that you will find many wineries in Tenerife? They are located in the most amazing places of the island. If I’m honest, the first thing that caught my eye from Bodegas Monje was their views. In the terrace, you can enjoy their wine while having views from El Teide, the vines and the beach. I hope you can appreciate the amazing view in the panorama picture below.
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History of bodegas Monje
The bodegas Monje is run by the fifth generation of the Monje family. The winery was built in 1956 and renovated in 1983. They still have some of the old oak barrels and combine the tradition with modern techniques.
The vineyard is located on a hill in El Sauzal, 600 meters above the see level. On a rich stony ground created by the volcano and the time. With some grape varieties that can only be found here: Listán Negro, Listán Blanco, Negramoll, Tintilla, Vijariego negra, Marmajuelo.
Guided wine tour at Bodegas Monje
Our guided tour started with a visit to the vines to learn more about how the winery works. In the past, the vines were laying on the ground and then were lifted up with pieces of wood in order to avoid the grapes were touching the ground, like in the vines below. Nowadays the vines are higher. Some processes are done with machines, but the harvesting of the grapes is mostly done manually.
The process of squeezing the grapes is now done with modern machines. If you go to a winery in France, you must probably see a more “old fashion way”. If you visit a winery in New Zealand, you will see also the same kind of machines as in Bodegas Monje.
Our visit continued inside. Where we saw the oak barrels used for the fermenting of some of the wines. Here the temperature is perfect for the fermentation, which is done with a mix of a traditional and a modern way. While the wine is fermenting in the barrels, they also served as decoration.
If you visit Bodegas Monje, you will realize that is not just a winery, they also collaborate with local artist and offer their space to exhibit their art. When we were there, there was an exhibit of pictures from a student of the photography academy.
Wine tasting at bodega Monje
At the end of the tour, we had a tasting of their wines. I only tried two as at the time I was breastfeeding. I choose to try those grape varieties that cannot be found anywhere else. If you are a wine lover, you must try their carbonic maceration wines. You have different options for a wine tasting at Bodegas Monje. From one or two wine glasses to whole wine tasting with food pairing.
Workshops and events
A visit to Bodegas Monje is a “must do” in Tenerife. Even if you are not a wine lover, they offer other activities where you can enjoy their food and their terrace like a good breakfast or lunch. A cooking workshops or the special night event ¨wine & sex¨.
The wine & sex is probably the most ingenious and provocative event. A dinner with a wine tasting and an erotic twist. There’s a wine & sex dinner per season, so check their website for the details.
Practical information
Bodegas Monje is located in “La Hollera”, Camino Cruz de Leandro, 36 in El Sauzal.
You can visit the winery every day from 10:00 to 19:00. The guided tours are at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Have you been to the Canary Islands or is it in your bucket list?
Thank you, Bodegas Monje for the guided tour and the hospitality during our visit!
27 Comments
N J Magas
I love wine tours. We used to go on them every summer when we had kendo camp in British Columbia.
We see a lot of traditional wooden tree stilts here in Kyoto too. They add a lot to the atmosphere.
shere
British Columbia is also in our bucket list, I have a pinterest board for BC 🙂
Jessica | A passion and a passport
I’ve never been to the Canary Islands but have always wanted to go! What a great C post! The wine tasting looks fabulous, and that panoramic view is to die for!
shere
the good thing of the canary islands is that you can go anytime of the year
Corinne Vail
I do love wine tours, and the wine, but more importantly I love taking photos in vineyards and I love yours.
shere
thanks! we are also wine lovers and try to sample the local wines everywhere we go.
FrandalF16
We are wine lovers at @BayEssenceBlog what’s type of wine it’s its specialty ?
Calli
Stunning photos! The Canary Islands look gorgeous, I’d love to visit them some day.
Chris Boothman
Just want to reiterate that the panoramic view looks amazing, in fact all of your images do. I have never been to the Canaries but I know that this is a real hot spot for British folks going on holiday during the summer to get away from the dreary British weather. Hopefully will get there someday to experience the vineyards and wineries.
Great post and looking forward to continuing you in the rest of the A to Z Challenge!
Nevin
Good to know about Canary Islands. Beautiful clicks and it made me feel like going there!
Arran in Focus
Lovely – travel provides so many opportunities.
Rhonda Albom
What a strange event, interesting and unusual. Glad you had a good holiday.
Ashley @ A Southern Gypsy
Great pictures and ‘C’ choice! I’ve never been but I’d love to and I can always enjoy a wine tasting 🙂
lisa-marie
That panoramic shot is gorgeous! I would love to visit Canary Islands one day! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Vikas Khair
Nice pictures and description.
Traveling Cats
I’ve been to Tenerife as a child and loved it. I hope to go back there soon and visit some more, maybe the Bodegas Monje.
Linda Allen
Really beautiful photography. Thanks for the tour.
ben
This post is great! And the photos are simply stunning. .
Debbie Doglady
Great post! I visited Tenerife many years ago and loved it. Different place though – Puerto de la Cruz. Will be writing about that when we get to "P".
servicefromheart
Thanks Shere and Paul! I added Canary Islands to my bucket list 🙂
Best wishes
ServicefromHeart.blogspot.com
#AtoZChallenge 2014 participant
Hannah
I’d never call myself a win connoisseur but I think I would give it a shot with views like that! Looks beautiful.
Tam Gamble
What an interesting trip! Tenerife is a country that we have never really considered visiting, I think it is because we have certain impressions of the country that have been developed over the course of time by numerous tv programmes documenting a holiday that we don’t really want to experience but this post highlights that there is a different side to the island as well and maybe we need to stop being quite so judgemental in assuming the whole island is the same! 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
Beautiful photos! I have always wanted to visit the Canary Islands and a wine tasting sounds like a great activity!
Constance - Foreign Sanctuary
Beautiful photos!! I would love to go there and partake in a wine tour!
Samantha
I’ve never been to Canary Islands but it looks like a fab spot for a wine tour!
Chris Boothman
Even though I have never ventured to the Canaries, I know several folks that have been here and they all have positive things to say. The wine tasting tour sounds awesome, a great way to sample some local creations I’m sure.
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