Subscribe to this RSS feed
Sunday, 15 March 2015 11:33

Western Wonder: Teneguia White Wine From La Palma

La Palma's excellent Teneguía white wine

This excellent La Palma dry white is superb value and rivals any Spanish white you can buy for the price in Gran Canaria's supermarkets.

Published in Wine
Read more...
Friday, 13 March 2015 07:37

Canary Islands Wines: La Palma's La Gota

La Palma's excellent La Gota white wine

This is one of the best value Canarian white wines and is easy to find in Gran Canaria's supermarkets.

Published in Wine
Read more...
Tuesday, 03 March 2015 07:36

Gran Canaria Wines: Agala 1318 Altitud (was) Sex in a Bottle

Agala is one of the best Gran Canaria white wines
This Gran Canaria white wine was sex in a bottle and we didn't want to let anyone leave the island without tracking it down and trying it. That was before they put it into oak bottles and turned it into a trendy but (in our opinion) lesser wine. Anyway, here's the original review of the unoaked wine, followed by the 2021 review of the oaked version.
We've said it before and here it is again: the best white wines from the Canaries (except Lanzarote) are from high-altitude vineyards. This is 14 euros of "we told you so", and it's worth every cent.
Agala 1318 Altitud has a floral nose with apricot and a touch of sweetness.  In the mouth, it is dry but rich with well-balanced acidity. You get intense fruit and flowers, and a floral finish with a little bitterness. As with all great Canarian wines the finish is long and intense.
It's the best Gran Canaria dry white we've ever tried. Sell your body if you have to but try this wine.

The Winery

The Agala winery is called Bodegas Bentayga. It's between Tejeda and Artenara and at up to 1318 metres above sea level it's one of the highest in Spain. The vines grow on small terraces on steep terrain and experience a vast range of temperatures. This area of Gran Canaria gets snow during cold winters and can reach over 40ºC during hot summers.

As with most Canarian wineries, Bentayga grows local grape varieties and hand picks the grapes: 1318 is made with a blend of Albillo and Vijariego.

Visits are possible but only from Monday to Friday, minimum six people and 72 hours notice. They cost 8 euros per person and include the chance to buy wine at bodega prices. Book here.

Agala 1318 is available in good wine shops and at the wine stall in the Santa Brigida weekend market.

2021 reviewed of oaked Agala Altitud dry white wine

This wine has been one of the best Gran Canaria whites for several years. Grown in South Central Gran Canaria, it had that zing you get from blasting white wine grapes with the extremes of temperature and climate (snow to 40C) you get at over 1000 metres above sea level.

Back in 2015 we reviewed it as "a floral nose with apricot and a touch of sweetness. In the mouth, it is dry but rich with well-balanced acidity. You get intense fruit and flowers, and a floral finish with a little bitterness".

It was all about the blossom!

The concept has evolved since then and this wine now spends time sobre lías in French oak barrels.

Oak and dead yeast add intensity and depth of flavour at the expense of freshness. But is it worth all that extra effort? Can you take an excellent "drink now" Canary Islands wine and turn it into something deeper? Why would you want to?

Oak, melon and banana on the nose. Quite exciting at first sniff but there's a tired hint to the wood after a few more.

Good acidity in the mouth from the vijariego, richness from the albillo. A hint of butter and vanilla from the oak and lías. Melon and banana.

Blah blah blah!

Bring back the old version we say. The oak and butter don't make up for the lost blossom and freshness.

Check our latest Gran Canaria and Canary Islands wine reviews on our Canary Islands Wines Facebook Group. 

Published in Wine
Read more...

Gran Canaria Info recommends:

  • Default
  • Title
  • Date
  • Random

Join the Gran Canaria Info newsletter list

endanlfifrdeisitnoplptruessv

 

 

Features

Gran Canaria info recommends

  • 1

Follow us on Facebook

Tip of the day

  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

Latest articles

Who's Online

We have 8133 guests and no members online

Login / Register

Take this website to the max, login or create an account now! By clicking on any Social Media platform logo, you can login with just one click.