Wine Lovers: Wine Tasting Tour at El Grifo Bodega Lanzarote

Volcanic soil makes every sip a story. El Grifo Bodega offers a small-group wine tour that ties Lanzarote’s unusual growing methods to the wines in your glass. I like the mix of old winery history and serious tasting, and I like that the head sommelier leads the session rather than leaving you with a quick pour and a sales pitch. The main drawback is practical: hotel pickup is not included, and reaching the bodega by taxi can be awkward from some parts of the island.

You get about two hours, six wines, local cheese, and a visit to the old winery museum for $57 per person. That is fair value, especially if you enjoy learning as much as drinking. The tour is for adults only, limited to 10 people, and available in English or Spanish.

Key points about the El Grifo wine tour

• 1775 winery building: Visit the old winery, used from 1775 until the 1990s, and see tools from earlier wine production.
• Six wines in one sitting: Taste a broad selection of El Grifo wines, with several served during the tour and the rest in the tasting room.
• Lanzarote grape varieties: Learn about malvasia, listán negro, and syrah, including how volcanic soil and trade winds affect the grapes.
• Head sommelier guidance: The tasting is led by a professional guide who explains aroma, color, flavor, and food pairing in plain terms.
• Local cheese pairing: Island cheeses accompany the wines, with some tasting sessions also including biscuits or chocolate.
• Small group format: With a maximum of 10 people, you have a good chance to ask questions and keep the session personal.

Why El Grifo offers more than a standard tasting

Many winery visits come down to a look around, three small glasses, and a shop at the exit. El Grifo gives you a fuller picture of how wine works in Lanzarote, from the old production rooms to the family plot and the final tasting.

The setting matters. Lanzarote’s wine country does not follow the usual picture of neat green rows under warm sunshine. The island’s volcanic soils and strong trade winds shape the way grapes are grown and help explain why the wines taste so distinctive. The tour connects those conditions with what you smell and taste, which makes the information useful rather than decorative.

I especially like the way the visit puts local wine in context. You are not simply told that malvasia, listán negro, and syrah are different grapes. You learn what gives each one its character and how the island’s climate affects the fruit. That makes the tasting easier to follow, even if you know little about wine.

The 4.9 rating from 238 reviews also fits the strongest pattern in the feedback: people praise the guides, the quality and range of the wines, and the amount of information provided in two hours. That does not mean every minute will suit every person. If you dislike guided tastings or want a quiet drink without explanation, the format may feel too structured.

Entering the old winery from 1775

The historical part begins in the Wine Museum, located in the old winery that operated from 1775 until it closed in the 1990s. It is described as the oldest winery of its type in the Canary Islands, giving the tour a strong sense of place before you reach the glasses.

You can see the tools and utensils used in the 19th and 20th centuries. These objects help show how wine was made before modern equipment changed the process. The visit is not just a quick museum stop. It explains the working life of the bodega and how the building functioned over time.

I find this useful because it gives you something solid to remember beyond the wine labels. The old equipment links the family business to earlier generations, while the current tasting shows how the bodega has adapted. You may also be shown areas not accessible during a regular visit, depending on the guide and the day.

The historic setting is a highlight, but you should keep your expectations sensible. This is a guided winery visit, not a full museum tour with hours of exhibits. The museum visit is one part of a two-hour program, so the emphasis remains on wine and tasting.

From trade winds to volcanic soil

Lanzarote’s growing conditions are central to the tour. The guide explains the part played by trade winds and volcanic soils in the quality and composition of the grapes grown on the family plot.

This is where the experience becomes especially relevant to what you are drinking. Instead of treating the island’s climate as a bit of scenic background, the guide shows how it affects the vines and, in turn, the wine. The volcanic setting helps explain why El Grifo’s bottles have a clear local identity.

The tour covers three important grape varieties:

• Malvasia: A key white grape associated with Lanzarote, discussed in relation to the island’s growing conditions.
• Listán negro: A red variety whose qualities are considered alongside the island’s soil and climate.
• Syrah: A familiar international grape that takes on a local expression at El Grifo.

You should not expect a technical winemaking class packed with specialist language. The strongest part of the presentation is its accessibility. Several people who described themselves as wine novices found the explanations easy to follow, and the guides were praised for answering questions without making the session feel intimidating.

That matters if you are visiting with someone who likes wine less than you do. One particularly useful detail is that even a reluctant wine drinker enjoyed the visit because it included the winery’s story and the way wines are made, not just tasting notes.

A six-wine tasting with room to ask questions

The tasting includes six wines produced onsite. The exact selection can vary, so you should see it as a chance to sample the bodega’s range rather than a fixed list of labels.

Some sessions have included two wines during the tour itself, followed by four in the tasting room. Others describe the six pours as part of the complete professional tasting. In either case, the structure gives you time to connect the production process with the finished wine.

The head sommelier guides you through the color, aromas, and flavors. You are encouraged to use your senses and think about how each wine changes with food. This can be helpful if wine tasting usually feels like a test you did not study for. You do not need a large vocabulary. The guide’s job is to give you a starting point.

The guides receive some of the strongest praise. Jacqueline, also called Jacky in some comments, is described as friendly, clear, and fluent in English. Minerva is praised for being engaging and making the session easy for beginners. Alexandra is singled out for her wine expertise and warm approach.

Guide quality can vary from one departure to another, but the repeated pattern is reassuring. The staff are not simply pouring wine and reciting a memorized speech. They answer questions, explain the methods, and adjust the presentation to the group.

The six pours also make the price easier to assess. At $57, you are paying for a guided historical visit, a professional tasting, cheese, and a small group rather than only six samples. If you bought six glasses separately in a tourist area, the total could easily approach the tour cost, but the real value here is the explanation and setting.

Local cheese makes the tasting more useful

The cheese pairing is simple but important. Local cheeses from island producers are served with the wines, helping you see how different flavors work together.

Some sessions also include biscuits or chocolate. These extras are not guaranteed in the basic description, so treat them as a possible addition rather than a reason to book. The cheese, however, is part of the stated experience.

I like the pairing because it turns the tasting into something social and practical. You learn not only which wines you prefer, but also how food changes the way a wine tastes. That is a lesson you can use later at dinner or when choosing a bottle to take home.

The samples are described as generous, though you should still regard this as a tasting rather than a meal. If you arrive hungry, plan another snack or meal separately. El Grifo may have a cafe where you can relax afterward with light food and more wine, but that is not included in the $57 tour.

For people who do not drink much, the cheese and the cultural side help keep the visit enjoyable. The tour is still built around wine, so non-drinkers should not expect a separate alcohol-free program. Still, the setting, history, and food make it less narrow than a glass-by-glass tasting.

Small groups keep the two hours personal

The group limit is 10 participants. That is a useful size for a tasting because you can hear the guide and ask questions without competing with a coach party.

On some departures, the group has been as small as four people. You cannot count on that number, but the limit of 10 keeps the experience from feeling like a mass tour. It also allows the guide to spend more time explaining a wine or answering a question from a beginner.

A small group can create a more relaxed atmosphere, particularly when the participants come from different countries. The guides have been praised for handling mixed nationalities and for speaking English or Spanish clearly.

The two-hour duration is well judged for most people. You get enough time for the museum, winery explanation, vineyard or production details, and six wines without turning the afternoon into a full-day commitment. If you want an extensive tour of every part of the estate, two hours may feel short. For a focused introduction to El Grifo, it should be enough.

Starting times vary, so check availability before planning the rest of your day. This is especially important if you are combining it with another Lanzarote sight or arranging a taxi.

Getting there and planning the visit

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to arrange your own transport to El Grifo Bodega, and one person specifically reported difficulty finding a taxi from a cruise port.

That warning is worth taking seriously. If you are visiting Lanzarote from a cruise ship, allow extra time for transport and confirm how you will return before the tasting begins. Staff have helped arrange a taxi for some people after the visit, but this should not replace making your own plan.

The bodega offers discounts on shipping to European countries. This can make buying a bottle or two more practical if you do not want to carry wine through the rest of your trip. Check the current shipping terms at the bodega, since costs and destinations can change.

The shop is another reason to leave a little time after the tour. Several people found the prices reasonable and bought bottles of their favorites to take home. I would wait until after the tasting before shopping. You will have a better idea of what you actually like, rather than choosing only by label or bottle design.

You must be at least 18 to join. Children under 18 are not suitable for this activity, and the tour does not offer a family version.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend El Grifo to you if you enjoy local food and drink, want a meaningful break from beach time, or prefer a small group to a large coach excursion. It is also a good choice for wine beginners because the guides explain the basics without assuming prior knowledge.

The tour suits couples, adult friends, and solo visitors who like meeting a mixed group. It also works for a pair where one person is more interested in wine than the other, since the museum, old equipment, volcanic growing methods, and cheese add variety.

You may want to choose another activity if you need hotel transport, dislike alcohol-focused visits, or want a long vineyard walk. The experience is centered on the bodega, museum, explanation, and tasting. The emphasis is not on a full meal, a long countryside excursion, or a quiet private appointment.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance gives you some flexibility, and you can reserve while postponing payment. That is useful when your Lanzarote schedule depends on weather, transport, or cruise timing.

Is El Grifo worth $57?

For six wines, cheese, a guide, the old winery, and a small group, I consider $57 a good price. The value is strongest if you take part in the explanations and ask questions. You are paying for access, interpretation, and a local food pairing, not just the alcohol.

The tour also gives you a better understanding of Lanzarote wine than a bottle purchased in a shop. You learn why the island’s grapes grow as they do, taste several varieties, and get the chance to buy a favorite afterward.

The drawback is transport. If a taxi is expensive or hard to arrange, the total cost and effort rise. Check your route before booking, especially from a cruise port.

Should you book the El Grifo wine tasting?

Yes, if you want a well-paced adult activity with strong local character. The old winery, volcanic growing story, six wines, cheese, and consistently praised guides make this more worthwhile than a basic tasting-room stop.

Book it with realistic expectations: plan your own transport, expect a two-hour guided program, and remember that the wine is the focus. If that sounds right, El Grifo is an easy pick for wine lovers and a surprisingly friendly introduction for beginners.

FAQ

How long does the El Grifo wine tour last?

The tour lasts about two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when selecting your date.

How many wines are included?

The experience includes a tasting of six wines produced onsite. The exact selection may vary, and some sessions serve two wines during the tour and four in the tasting room.

What food is served with the wine?

Local island cheeses are included with the tasting. Some sessions have also included biscuits or chocolate, but these extras are not guaranteed in the main description.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide can lead the experience in English or Spanish.

Can children join the tour?

No. This is an adults-only activity, and participants must be at least 18 years old.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must arrange your own transport to and from El Grifo Bodega.