Lanzarote is an island with volcanic origins. Despite its geographical latitude, the island has a very mild and temperate climate, thanks to the trade winds which, moisture-laden, blow in constantly from the northwest. Lanzarote also enjoys many hours of sunshine and little rain.
The unique landscape of La Geria, located in the centre of the island of Lanzarote, is the result of significant volcanic eruptions. Although the effects of the volcanic eruptions were catastrophic for the entire island, the inhabitants soon observed the benefits of the ash and the volcanic sand that covered the fertile soil.
It was discovered that some plants, such as vines, even grew better in the land covered in volcanic sand, as the layer of ash retained the ambient moisture and prevented it from evaporating, which is very effective in an area where there is very little rain.
Vine growing, which was unimportant before the eruption, soon spread, prospered and created a unique landscape where the green of the vine stocks painted the black lapilli.
As an island, Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary archipelago was not affected by the phylloxera plague which devastated the vines of all of Europe at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century.
This means that the stocks are ungrafted: they grow on their own roots, without using American grafts, the only ones that are resistant to phylloxera. Thus, the grape vines of Lanzarote live for longer, are purer, and therefore, have more oenological benefits.
The layer of lapilli can be 1 to 3 metres thick, in some places it reaches a thickness of 10 metres.
The vine-grower digs a crater-shaped hole with a diameter of 4 metres so that the roots of the plant can reach the fertile ground. Traditionally, the holes were created using the force of a camel dragging a blade while walking around in a circle.
The plant, which grows extensively inside the hole and close to the soil, is protected from the persistent trade winds.
In order to strengthen the plant´s shelter from the wind, a semi-circular wall was built with volcanic stones piled up facing the north-west, where the trade winds blow in from.
The harvest is one of the most important tasks, as not only are the fruits of the vine collected, but the fruit of the work of an entire year is also harvested. It is a task that is carried out with utmost care to ensure that the grapes reach the winery in the best condition.
The vine-grower waits for the grapes to obtain the optimum point of maturation, in order to obtain wine of the best quality. Thus, the harvesting period is long, it normally begins midway through July and does not end until midway through September. It is necessary to harvest variety by variety, as the maturation process is different for each of them.
STRATVS Winery has several plots where different grape varieties grow. Each year, these plots are given very interesting names, Finca de Uga, Cuestita, Chupadero, Agustín, Las Peñas, Los Cantos, Benigna, Mari Carmen, Bodega, Las Palmeras, Aparcamiento and Bilbao, they are harvested with meticulous care, thus allowing us to obtain wines with unparalleled character.
REALIZADO POR
BTL LANZAROTE SL
Proyecto subvencionado por la Consejería de Turismo, Industria y Comercio del Gobierno de Canarias, según Resolución de la Dirección General de Industria n.º 1859/2019 de 22 de noviembre de 2019.
