Two Lanzarote wineries, Erupción and Timanfaya, took part in the latest edition of the world’s largest event dedicated to fortified wines, held in Jerez. It raised their profiles and opened the door to new markets. Both say they will be back.
The thirteenth edition of Vinoble, the international fair for fortified wines, once again featured a Canary Islands stand. Supported by the Canary Institute for Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), Timanfaya and Erupción, both from Lanzarote, joined six other producers from Tenerife and La Palma.
Amor López and Alberto González, winemakers and owners of Bodegas Erupción and Timanfaya respectively, welcomed the opportunity to participate in this major industry event and are keen to return. According to the organisers, the fair attracted 7,389 visitors representing 40 nationalities and featured more than 800 wines from 116 wineries.
For Amor López Sirvent, founder, managing director and winemaker at Bodega Erupción, ‘Vinoble has been a fantastic showcase, giving my winery tremendous exposure, and I am delighted to have taken part. You meet so many people and make valuable contacts. It hasn’t translated into any concrete sales or distribution opportunities yet, but logistical and tax issues make it difficult to operate even on mainland Spain, where I already sell my wines, let alone further afield.’
López believes that Erupción’s five years in business, its far smaller output than that of wineries in other designations of origin and its focus on wines for laying down place its wines at the premium end of the market. Their scarcity and rarity add to their exclusivity, and the costs involved inevitably limit opportunities for international growth.
Erupción presented two wines: Milagro de Magmasía Selección (2022 vintage), a dry 100% Malvasía Volcánica aged on its lees for 34 months; and Piroclastos Dulce (2011), a naturally sweet wine made entirely from Muscat of Alexandria grapes harvested from vines grown in chabocos, fissures in the lava.
Alberto González Plasencia, owner and winemaker at Bodega Timanfaya, came away even more satisfied. ‘Vinoble is definitely one for the calendar and an event we will return to, although next time I’ll bring more wine. There was a great deal of interest and demand. Some visitors have since come to the winery, while a group of Russians wanted to buy all our wine there and then, even offering twice the price.’
‘We have also been offered distribution on mainland Spain,’ he continued, ‘and the increase in production under way will allow us to enter Asian markets, which particularly interest me. I believe this impact and exposure benefit not only my winery, but every producer within the Lanzarote Wine Designation of Origin.’
González presented Timanfaya Malvasía Dulce Natural and Moscatel Dulce 1999 at Vinoble, the latter aged in an underground volcanic cave.
