LATITUDE
LONGITUDE
APPELATIONS
Welcome to the edge of the world. Or at least, what feels like it. The Ycoden-Daute-Isora DO isn't just a wine region; it's a geological miracle clinging to Tenerife's northwest slopes. If Champagne is a boardroom meeting, structured, pricey, and predictable, Ycoden-Daute-Isora is a garage startup: chaotic, lively, and creating something that might change your life (or at least your palate).
This region is where "heroic viticulture" isn't a marketing buzzword; it's a survival strategy. We are talking about vines that look like trees, slopes that would terrify a mountain goat, and a winemaking tradition that predates the US Constitution. This profile will dissect the region's stats, terroir, and the "blessed madness" of its producers, who refuse to let these ancient vines die.
Ycoden-Daute-Isora is the definition of "punching above your weight class." While it lacks the sprawling, industrial acreage of mainland Spain, it compensates with a staggering density of personality. Anchoring the island's western end, this region is a lush, green amphitheater comprising nine municipalities, from Icod de los Vinos in the north to Guía de Isora in the south. The territory is defined by vertigo, where the concept of "flat" does not exist.
Within this DO, the focus is on artisanal survival; vineyards cling to the earth, producing agonizingly low yields that defy economic logic. This appellation rejects the commodity model, serving as a bridge between a storied past and a modern renaissance, resulting in wines whose price is a bargain given the sheer impossibility of their existence.
This appellation is defined by dramatic verticality rather than vast scale. Spanning approximately 115 to 300 hectares of registered and potential vine area, it remains a boutique operation with fewer than 12 registered wineries. Its defining feature is its extreme altitude range, where vineyards climb from just 50 meters near the Atlantic surf to a staggering 1,500 meters up the volcanic slopes, sustained by an average annual precipitation of 540 mm. The terrain consists of rugged, volcanic land with significant altitude variations from 50 to 1,400 meters. The vineyards are located on the slopes of the Teide volcano, creating a dramatic and challenging environment for viticulture.
The climate in the Ycoden-Daute-Isora region is among the hottest in Tenerife, with winter temperatures low enough for frost to form. The altitudinal range contributes to diurnal temperature variation, with summer highs around 35 °C (95 °F) and winter lows that can cause frost. The region's average annual temperature is around 19 °C (66 °F).
Wine here isn't a hobby; it's a legacy. The roots trace back to the 16th century, immediately after the Spanish conquest. For centuries, this region was the engine room for the famous "Canary Sack" (sweet Malvasia), beloved by Shakespeare and European courts.
Sustainability in Ycoden isn't about a sticker on a bottle; it's about survival.
Vineyard Hectares
WINERIES
GROWING DEGREE DAYS
Situated on the northwestern flank of Mount Teide, this dramatic natural amphitheatreoverlooks the Atlantic Ocean, creating a unique, steep landscapedefined by the looming volcanic peak above. Ycoden-Daute-Isora is located in the western part of the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Cooling Alisios trade windscreate a protective sea of clouds, providingvital moisture through horizontal rain while significant thermal amplitudelockscrisp acidity into the ripening grapes. Rainfall in the Ycoden-Daute-Isora region is relatively high, particularly on the western-facing slopes of Mount Teide, with a mean annual rainfall of around 540 mm. The climate is influenced by Atlantic trade winds, which bring humidity and help moderate temperatures.
This phylloxera-free regionfeaturespure volcanic soilscomposed of ash, lapilli, and basaltic rock. These ungrafted vinesthrive in porous earth that impartssignature smoky minerality and retains moisture. Wines from Ycoden-Daute-Isora are characterized by their unique flavour profiles due to the volcanic soils. The soils in Ycoden-Daute-Isora are mainly sandy and volcanic along the coast, with more volcanic material and sandy clay inland.
Preserving viticultural history, the region champions Listán Blanco, Marmajuelo, Gual, Malvasía, and Moscatel, alongside Pedro Ximénez, Verdello, and Vijariego. Albillo, Sabro, Torrontés, and Forastera Blanca complement reds such as Tintilla, Negramoll, Castellana, and Baboso, while the rare Malvasía Rosada, Moscatel Negro, and Vijariego Negro complete this volcanic collection. The Listán Negro grape is the primary red grape of the Canary Islands, grown in volcanic soils. Listán Blanco accounts for 70% of the vineyards in Ycoden-Daute-Isora.
The region is versatile, but "Freshness" is the shared DNA. The most typical wines you will find under this DO are dry whites, fruit-forward dry rosés, aged whites, light-bodied reds, and sweet Malvasía wines.
These great wines capture the unique soul of Tenerife. The region is renowned for excellent white wines that dazzle the nose with complex aromas of volcanic minerals and sea salt, impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Forget the generic "chicken or fish." These wines call for local flavors. Some of the best pairings include:
Wine tourism in Ycoden-Daute-Isora is the antithesis of the corporate tasting-room experience; it is a raw immersion in heroic viticulture. Forget paved parking lots and glossy gift shops. Here, you navigate dizzying roads to find vineyards clinging to volcanic slopes, offering a visceral connection to the island's explosive history and Atlantic soul.
Bodegas Viñátigo and Bodegas Tajinaste showcase the intellectual and technical cutting edge of Ycoden-Daute-Isora. Viñátigo stands out for rescuing near-extinct native varieties, while Tajinaste channels precision viticulture and produces benchmark whites that define modern, volcanic-driven Canary Island wine.
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