The Best Lanzarote Wines to Bring Home as Souvenirs

Why Lanzarote Wine Makes a Good Souvenir

Lanzarote wine doesn't taste like anything from the mainland. The vines grow in hand-dug pits called zocos, set in black volcanic ash and sheltered from the trade winds by little semi-circular stone walls. The grapes come out with a mineral edge you can't copy elsewhere. The La Geria wine region is a UNESCO-protected landscape, and you can taste that in the glass.

Most visitors take home a fridge magnet or a postcard. A bottle of volcanic wine is something people actually remember. Put a Yaiza blue bottle on the table back home and somebody will ask about it every time. We see it daily in the shop: couples come in for one bottle and leave with four.

It also suits people who don't know much about wine. You can explain the story in two sentences (vines in pits, volcanic ash, no rain to speak of), and the bottle does the rest.

Our Top Picks to Take Home

Yaiza and the iconic blue bottles

This is the most recognisable Lanzarote wine, and the one we're asked about most. The Blanco Afrutado (fruity white) is the crowd favourite. It's light and refreshing, and it goes down far too easily on a warm afternoon. The Blanco Seco (dry white) is more complex, with mineral notes, and people who say they "properly" like wine tend to go for this one.

There's also the Rosado (rosé), which we think is underrated, and the Tinto (red) for anyone who prefers red. The whites and rosé come in the blue bottles at €21.50 each, and the Tinto is €25. If you want to go a step up, ask about Gara. It comes from the same bodega, with higher-grade grapes, in a striking smoked black and blue glass bottle.

Serve the Afrutado and the Rosado well chilled, with prawns, a simple salad or just a bowl of olives. The Seco suits grilled white fish, and it's very good with papas arrugadas and mojo, the classic Canarian combination of wrinkly salted potatoes and spicy sauce. Take the Tinto out of the fridge, or serve it only lightly cooled, if the weather is hot.

El Grifo and the historic bodega

El Grifo, founded in 1775, is one of the oldest wineries in the Canary Islands, and it makes outstanding Malvasía. The Malvasía Seco is a textbook example of volcanic terroir: dry and crisp, with a salty, mineral finish that tells you where the grapes grew. If you want something special, look for the aged Reserva.

The Malvasía Semi-Dulce is the one for visitors who like a touch of sweetness. It works well with a mild cheese or on its own after dinner. El Grifo also has a wine museum at its bodega in La Geria, which is worth a stop if you're doing a day trip around the island.

Bermejo for small-batch wine

Bermejo makes small-batch, organic wines from the heart of La Geria. The Malvasía Naturalmente Dulce (naturally sweet) is thick and honeyed. It makes a lovely dessert wine, and it's the bottle to give someone who "doesn't usually drink wine". Try it with blue cheese or a slice of almond tart.

Their Seco Ecologico is a clean, organic dry white that has become a favourite of ours at home. Bermejo is a smaller producer, so stock can vary. If we have it when you come in, grab it.

La Geria for everyday drinking

For a classic Lanzarote wine at a fair price, La Geria Malvasía is the one. The bodega sits right in the middle of the protected wine region, surrounded by the volcanic zocos. The wines are honest and good quality, and they won't break the bank. It's the bottle we'd suggest if you're buying several for a villa dinner and don't want to agonise over it.

Volcano and Rubicón

These are two more solid options from local bodegas. Volcano is a fruity, easy-drinking white that we serve by the glass on the terrace, and it's one of our most popular pours. Rubicón

How to Choose Between Them

Most customers ask us the same thing: "Which one is the best?" It depends on who the bottle is for. Here's what we usually say at the counter.

• For a friend who likes easy white wine: Yaiza Blanco Afrutado.
• For a wine lover: El Grifo Malvasía Seco, or the aged Reserva if you want to spend more.
• For someone with a sweet tooth, or a dessert-wine fan: Bermejo Malvasía Naturalmente Dulce.
• For a red drinker: Yaiza Tinto at €25.
• For a case to share: La Geria Malvasía.

Lanzarote whites are generally drier and more mineral than the mainland whites most people are used to. If you normally drink a soft supermarket white, start with the Afrutado. If you like a crisp Albariño or a Sancerre, the Seco will be right up your street.

Taste Before You Buy

Most people don't realise they don't have to guess. At Brunchi.shop we run a wine tasting of 4 glasses of Lanzarote wines for €14. Walk in any time (no booking needed), sit on the terrace, and Florin will talk you through each one. He'll also tell you which he'd take home, and occasionally it isn't the one you'd expect.

If you'd rather taste something more specific, we also do tasting boards. The Yaiza Board has the Rosado, Seco, Semi-Dulce and Afrutado, so you can compare the whole white and rosé range side by side. The Red Board has Yaiza Tinto, Volcano, Ribera and Rioja, for anyone who wants to try the red range against two mainland classics.

We also serve wine by the glass: Yaiza, Volcano, Vinosol, Ribera, Rioja, Cava and Prosecco. That lets you try a wine for a few euros before you commit to a bottle. Plenty of customers have a glass of Yaiza on the terrace, then pop inside and buy a bottle for the suitcase.

How Many Bottles Can I Take Home?

If you're flying back to the UK, you're allowed up to 18 litres of still wine per person in your checked luggage. That's roughly 24 bottles. Going to mainland Spain or another EU country, there's no limit, as long as you can show it's for personal use. So don't hold back.

In practice, your weight allowance will stop you before the customs rules do. A full bottle is heavy, so weigh your case before you head to the airport.

Packing Tips for Getting Wine Home Safely

Wine goes in checked luggage, not hand luggage, because liquids over 100ml aren't allowed in the cabin. Here's what we tell every customer. Put a sock over each end of the bottle (top and tail), wrap it in a jumper or towel, and place it in the middle of your suitcase with clothes packed tightly all round. We've had customers take home dozens of bottles this way without a single breakage. You don't need fancy wine bags or bubble wrap, because your clothes do the job.

If you're worried, you can buy inflatable wine sleeves from Amazon before your trip. Honestly, though, the sock and towel method works every time.

• Keep the bottles away from the edges and corners of the case.
• Don't leave gaps. Fill any space with clothes so nothing shifts.
• Pack the heaviest bottles near the wheels end, so the case stays balanced.

Can I Get Wine Shipped Home?

At the moment we don't ship internationally. It's something we're looking into for the future, but customs and alcohol shipping rules make it complicated. For now, the best option is to fill your suitcase. If you're buying a lot, some airlines let you add extra hold luggage for €30-40 per bag, which is still much cheaper than shipping.

When to Come In

We're open Monday to Saturday, 10am-3pm and 6pm-10pm, and closed all day Sunday. If your flight is on a Sunday or early Monday, buy your wine by Saturday at the latest so you aren't caught out. Come in with a bit of time if you want a proper chat about the bottles, and a tasting on the terrace is a good way to end a day in the marina.

Where to Find Us

Brunchi.shop is at Calle El Burrugo 44B, Marina Rubicon, Playa Blanca. We stock the full range from the major Lanzarote bodegas, plus mainland Spanish and international wines. If you'd like advice before you visit, or want to check we have a particular bottle in stock, email us at consultas@brunchi.shop.