Search for “the best wine tasting in Tenerife” and you’ll usually get the same result: generic lists mixing wineries, coach tours and activities with little real criteria behind them. If what you’re after is a genuine experience — with history, landscape and wine that has real character — it helps to know what actually separates a memorable tasting from just another tourist stop.
At Bodegas Monje, we have a long family history crafting volcanic wines in El Sauzal, in the north of Tenerife, welcoming those who want to understand Canarian wine from the inside. This guide brings together the criteria that genuinely matter when choosing a tasting, and how they translate into our own experience.
What to look for when choosing a wine tasting in Tenerife
Not all tastings are the same, and the difference is rarely about price. Here are the factors that shape the experience:
- The origin of the grapes. Tenerife preserves native varieties — Listán Negro, Listán Blanco, Negramoll, Bastardo Negro — that barely exist anywhere outside the archipelago. A good tasting introduces them with context, not just as a list of names.
- The setting. Volcanic soil and altitude change a wine’s character from one part of the island to another. Tasting among the vines, with the real landscape in front of you, adds something a closed room simply can’t.
- Who’s guiding you. The difference between a decent tasting and an unforgettable one usually comes down to whether the person guiding it truly knows the winery, the land and the family history behind each bottle.
- The pairing. Canarian wine is best understood alongside local produce: island cheeses, mojo sauce, food sourced close to home.
- Format flexibility. Groups, couples, private tastings or longer experiences with a vineyard visit: ideally, you should be able to choose according to the plan you’re after.
Living the tasting from its source: Bodegas Monje
Bodegas Monje is a family-run winery in El Sauzal, with views over the vineyard, Mount Teide and the sea, where Canarian wine culture runs through everything we offer. Our tastings aren’t just another stop: they’re part of a visit that includes the vineyard, the winery itself, and the story of a family with a long tradition of making wine with volcanic character.
At Bodegas Monje we offer a few different formats depending on what you’re after: Tastings, where you choose between 3, 5 or 8 of our wines to get to know the Monje family’s style and winemaking philosophy; Pairing experiences, which combine our young and barrel-aged wines with a selection of artisan Canarian cheeses — such as the “4×4” tasting, with a guided visit and a pairing of four wines and four cheeses from different islands —; and Private tastings, held in the Old Winery or the modern Barrel Room, guided by our own winemakers for a more personal experience.
Among our most sought-after wines for tasting are Listán Negro, Dragoblanco and our Hollera red, made with native varieties — Listán Negro, Listán Blanco, Negramoll, Bastardo Negro — grown in volcanic soil. For something more distinctive, we suggest comparing our underwater-aged wines with their land-aged counterpart, a different way of understanding how a wine changes depending on where it matures.
How to experience your tasting at Bodegas Monje
If you’d like to book a tasting, start by deciding which format suits you best: a classic Tasting of 3, 5 or 8 wines, a Pairing experience with Canarian cheeses, or a Private Tasting for a small group or special occasion. We recommend checking current availability, timings and prices directly before booking, as these can vary by season.
→ Discover our tastings and wine experiences at Bodegas Monje
(Note for the team: no English-language version of this URL was found on the live site — using the Spanish page until an English URL is confirmed.)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know about wine to enjoy a tasting in Tenerife? Not at all. Our tastings are designed to guide you step by step, whether or not you have any prior experience with wine.
When is the best time for a wine tasting in Tenerife? Thanks to the Atlantic climate, wineries in the north of the island can be visited comfortably all year round. Summer has the added benefit of lush, actively growing vineyards, ahead of the harvest in late summer.
Do the tastings include food? It depends on the format you choose: some experiences combine tasting with local produce pairings, and the restaurant-terrace allows you to extend the visit into a full meal.
Can private tastings be arranged for groups or couples? Yes, through the Bodegas Monje Wine Club, with formats designed for small groups.
Experience Canarian wine at its source
Choosing the right wine tasting in Tenerife means choosing between simply reading a label and getting to know the story behind it. At Bodegas Monje, we open the doors to the vineyard, the winery, and a family tradition that is, quite literally, poured into every glass.
