The wines of Gran Canaria, and Wineman

At the end of March, the Presidency of the Government headquarters in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria hosted the preview of the episode of the eighth season of the television series 'Wineman’ in which under the common thread of the wines of Gran Canaria, A tour of the island's agri-food productions is proposed.. The event was chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Cattle raising, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero, the director of the Canarian Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), Luis Arraez Guadalupe, and the director of this audiovisual production, the winemaker Joaquín Gálvez Bauzá.

Also in the 'premier’ of this chapter, which will premiere soon on Canal Cocina and will be available on demand on various audiovisual platforms for Spain and Latin America, The counselor of the Primary sector was also present, Food Sovereignty and Water Security of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Miguel Hidalgo, the insular director of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Alejandro Báez and the mayor of Valsequillo, Francisco Atta, together with representatives of the municipalities of the Commonwealth of the North of Gran Canaria, of professional agricultural organizations and the Regulatory Council of the PDO Wines of Gran Canaria, as well as students and teachers of the Agrarian Training School (ECA) of Arucas and the Viticulture Cycle of the Vega de San Mateo Secondary School, among other attendees and entities.

This program, in which the Government of the Canary Islands collaborates through the ICCA, reviews the wine history of Gran Canaria and the wealth of native varieties in the context of a growing demand driven by wine and gastronomic tourism. In the documentary, A walk through the Vegueta market becomes the best excuse to see first-hand the variety of wine and agri-food industries on the island., in addition to checking the coexistence, fruit of generational change, of traditional preparations with those more adapted to the palates of young consumers.

The head of the department, Narvay Quintero, He explained that the support of the Canary Islands Executive for this series is part of the policies of promotion and support for the marketing of the archipelago's productions of differentiated quality and highlighted that “The unique character of our wines and other agri-food products has allowed the Canary Islands to acquire a great reputation at a national and international level., which is the best recognition for professionals in our primary sector, always committed to quality production despite the difficulties derived from being an Outermost Region”.

For your part, Joaquín Gálvez stressed that “The stylistic richness of the wines of Gran Canaria is extraordinary both due to the geographical and climatic differences that the island presents and due to the different methods of production., so in their productions we can find both highly aged and youthful characters., going through all the intermediate styles”. “It's about showing what's behind the wine, the story, culture and roots; The wealth of varieties of the archipelago is the great guarantee to fight against change and be able to offer quality wines”, he added.

In addition, Miguel Hidalgo referred to the importance of the image that the Canary Islands offer abroad “because there are many visitors we receive every year, who may then want to consume those products, limited production preparations, gourmet and whose price must be according to these characteristics”. “It is also very important that consumption becomes widespread among the inhabitants of the archipelago., that they are the first consumers of our products, and meet internal demand”, added.

On his journey to the top of the island, Wineman discovers other crops, like the apple, which, thanks to the humidity provided by the trade winds, has allowed farmers, mainly from the municipality of Valleseco, boost a nascent cider industry, or the coffee, in Agaete, where a small but careful production is located that expands the possibilities of the island's gastronomic experience offering..

The episode includes, in addition, a product as emblematic of Gran Canaria as flower cheese, whose main characteristic is that the coagulation of milk, from transhumant Canarian sheep, It is made with vegetable rennet using the thistle flower through an artisanal process that has survived on the island since the 16th century..

Wineman and the wines of the Canary Islands

In addition to this production about Gran Canaria, the television series Wineman has dedicated several installments to the Canary Islands, with chapters on the wines of Lanzarote, The Palm, The iron, La Gomera, as well as the north and south of Tenerife, with the support of different entities. A new documentary about the wines of Lanzarote is currently in the recording process with special emphasis on the 250 anniversary of Bodegas El Grifo while, looking ahead to next season, an episode dedicated to the wines of Fuerteventura is being prepared.

Wineman is broadcast in Spain on AMC Canal Cocina, Bon Voyage Channel, Prime Video; also on the regional channel ETB, as well as on Rakuten TV, Love Wine and PlutoTV in Spain and Latin America. Since July 2024 It is also broadcast through the El Gourmet channel.