Canary Islands Position Themselves as a Premier Wine Tourism Destination
The Canary Islands Wine Tourism Cluster recently unveiled the archipelago’s unique enotourism offerings and a catalog of services from its member companies at the Canary Islands Government Delegation headquarters in Madrid. This event, which brought together institutional representatives and professionals from tourism, gastronomy, and wine, underscores the islands’ growing reputation as a top-tier wine tourism destination on the international stage.
A Collaborative Push for Quality and Sustainability
The presentation featured prominent figures including Luis Arráez, Director of the Canary Islands Agrifood Institute; Héctor Mateo Castañeyra, General Director of Tourism Infrastructure, Sustainability and Quality for the Canary Islands Government; and Rosa María Aguilar Chinea, the Government Delegate in Madrid. They were joined by Airam Díaz, Deputy Director of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Javier Lugo Ramos, Foreign Promotion Technician for PROEXCA, among other sector professionals.
With over five hundred years of winemaking tradition, the Canary Islands offer visitors a singular territory for wine lovers. The powerful combination of heroic landscapes carved from volcanic rock, unique native grape varieties, and a gastronomy that highlights local products solidifies the islands as a destination for sustainable wine tourism of immense cultural value.
The Driving Force Behind the Islands’ Wine Tourism
The Canary Islands Wine Tourism Cluster is a regional business association that unites more than 20 wineries, tourism companies, operators, and entities linked to wine tourism across the archipelago. Its mission is to drive competitiveness, professionalization, and cooperation among the different players in the wine tourism value chain, while promoting the brand ‘The Wine Tourism of the Wine Islands’ in key markets.
Supported by public institutions such as PROEXCA, the Canary Islands Institute for Agrifood Quality, GMR Canarias, PROMOTUR, HECANSA, and private entities like Cajasiete, the Cluster has established itself as a hub for innovation and promotion that integrates sustainability, training, and technology. Its goal is to firmly position the Canary Islands as a competitive, high-quality wine tourism destination that seamlessly weaves together landscape, product, and culture into a single, compelling story.
A Taste of the Islands in Madrid
The Madrid event culminated with a cocktail reception featuring a selection of wines from the Cluster’s member wineries paired with the culinary creations of acclaimed Canary Islands chef Nauzet Betancort. Renowned for his innovative reinterpretations of traditional cuisine, Chef Betancort’s dishes provided the perfect accompaniment. This pairing embodied the very philosophy the Cluster promotes: a deep connection between wine, territory, gastronomy, and creativity.
With this presentation, the Canary Islands Wine Tourism Cluster reaffirms its role as a catalyst for sector development, championing a model of tourism that is more experiential, sustainable, and deeply rooted in the local land. It is a bold commitment aimed at securing the archipelago’s place among the world’s great food and wine destinations.
