Step into Lanzarote wine history at El Grifo. You’ll tour the historic bodega with the head sommelier, then taste 6 wines onsite alongside local cheese and a quick museum visit. It’s a focused, small-group experience that mixes vineyards, people, and place in a way most tastings never do.

Two things I like a lot: you get guided context for what you’re tasting (malvasia, listán negro, syrah) and you get the setting. A museum stop inside the winery adds real texture, from tools of the 19th–20th centuries to how production worked before the bodega closed in the 1990s. One possible drawback: there’s no hotel pickup, so plan your own ride to El Grifo.

Key things that make this tour worth your time

• Small group (max 10) keeps the tasting from feeling rushed and makes questions easier
• Head sommelier-led pacing turns your nose and palate into part of the lesson
• Museum inside the 1775 winery buildings adds story you can actually see and walk through
• 6 onsite wines + local cheese pairing gives you a complete tasting arc, not just sips
• Lanzarote’s trade winds + volcanic soils are explained in plain terms, tied to the grape varieties
• Adult-only (18+) means the vibe is built for wine talk, not family logistics

El Grifo Bodega: a Lanzarote wine tasting in a real working place

El Grifo isn’t one of those “we pour, you smile, you leave” tastings. This one starts with the bodega itself and the people behind the wine—because Lanzarote’s grapes don’t come from normal conditions. The tour explains why the island matters, then walks you straight into tasting.

The price here can make you do a quick math check in your head: you’re paying for a guided visit, a guided tasting of 6 wines, and a cheese pairing, all packed into about 2 hours. For most people, that’s the sweet spot—long enough to learn something useful, not so long you burn half a day.

If you’re the type who likes wine but hates jargon, you’re in good shape. The structure is designed to guide your senses: color, smell, and flavor get attention. And if you’re traveling with someone who isn’t deeply into wine, this tour’s museum/history layer helps keep the interest broad.

Meet the head sommelier and get your “what am I tasting” answer fast

You’ll be guided through the experience by the head sommelier, and that matters more than it sounds. The point isn’t just tasting lots of wines; it’s understanding what you’re seeing and tasting in the glass. The tour focuses on the grape lineup that defines El Grifo and Lanzarote: malvasia, listán negro, and syrah.

The sommelier also connects flavor to place. You’ll learn how trade winds and volcanic soils influence the grapes grown on the family plot. That’s the kind of detail that makes tasting feel less random. Instead of memorizing labels, you start building a mental map: island conditions lead to vine behavior, which leads to wine character.

Group size is capped at 10 participants, which helps. Smaller groups generally mean the guide can move at a pace that fits the questions you actually want answered—rather than the ones they prepared for a “standard” script.

The winery museum stop: where you see how wine used to be made

One of the most interesting parts is the museum visit. The tour includes the Wine Museum, which served as the location of the old winery from 1775—described as the oldest of its type in the Canary Islands. You’re not just looking at a couple of framed photos. You’re walking through a space that was part of the actual working operation.

The museum covers tools and utensils from the 19th and 20th centuries, and it explains how wines were made while the winery was operating. The bodega closed in the 1990s, and that closure timeline is part of the story you’ll hear. It’s a nice reset during a tasting tour: you taste modern wines, then you step back into how people approached winemaking when tools and processes were totally different.

For me, this is where the tour earns extra value. Tastings are common. A historical visit inside an on-site winery setting is less so, and it helps you understand why the wines you’re tasting today have such strong ties to local tradition and land.

Grapes of Lanzarote: malvasia, listán negro, and syrah made tangible

This tour does a good job of turning grape names into something you can actually remember. You’ll learn about the characteristics of malvasia, listán negro, and syrah as grown on Lanzarote. The guide ties these grapes to the island’s key forces: wind exposure and volcanic soils.

What’s useful for you is the framing. Instead of treating grapes as abstract categories, the tour explains what conditions are doing to the vines. The trade winds and volcanic soil are presented as drivers of quality—helping you understand why the same grape varieties on a different island or soil can taste completely different.

Then comes the payoff: the tasting. You’re not left with theory only. You get 6 wines produced onsite and you get guided help to notice what smells and flavors show up where. That “taste with context” format is exactly what makes this kind of experience feel worth repeating, even if you’ve done tastings elsewhere.

The tasting room: 6 wines, local cheese, and a sensible pace

You’ll enjoy a professional tasting of 6 wines—paired with local cheese snacks. The tour is set up so you taste through multiple wines rather than sampling a couple and calling it done. The guide walks you through what to look for in each pour, including smells, colors, and flavors.

The cheese pairing is more than a snack option. Cheese is a practical way to learn how taste changes with food, and it helps you catch details you might miss when you’re tasting straight. It also slows you down in a good way, which matters because wine tasting is mostly about attention.

A detail that comes up often in high ratings: the tasting feels generous and professional. People also comment that the experience works even for beginners. That’s believable here because the guide isn’t just “explain wine,” they’re using the sommelier-led format to teach your senses as you go.

One thing to consider: the tour is adults-only (18+). If you’re traveling as a family, you’ll need a different activity. Also, since it’s designed around wine, the overall rhythm stays in that lane.

What 2 hours at El Grifo really means for your day

Two hours sounds short—until you do it. This tour packs the key pieces: historic bodega touring, museum time, and the full tasting sequence. That’s why it works well as a mid-day or afternoon activity when you want something meaningful without eating your whole schedule.

You won’t have hotel pickup/drop-off included. That’s normal for many island tours, but it affects planning. You’ll want to arrange transport so you arrive calm and on time, not chasing a ride at the last minute.

The upside of the compact duration: you can pair this with a slower activity afterward. Many people like to continue their tasting day with a relaxed snack or a final browse in the on-site shop after the tour (some visits include time where you can buy bottles to take home).

Price and value: why $57 can feel fair on Lanzarote

At about $57 per person, you’re paying for more than a basic pour. Included is a guide, a tasting of 6 wines, cheese, and the museum visit. You’re also getting expertise from the head sommelier, plus an added benefit: discounts on shipping to European countries.

For wine lovers, the value comes from the ratio of tasting + instruction. Six wines is enough variety to notice patterns across styles, and a sommelier-led guide makes it less likely you’ll feel like you just got a receipt for wine. For people who like learning, the museum gives you extra content without adding a third location or turning the day into a log jam.

For budget shoppers, the only real “watch out” is transport, since pickup isn’t included. The tour price itself is straightforward, but your total trip cost depends on how you get there and back.

Who should book this El Grifo wine tasting tour

I’d point you toward this tour if you want:

• A Lanzarote-focused wine experience, not a generic tasting script
• Guided tasting of malvasia, listán negro, and syrah with real context
• A museum stop that explains how winemaking worked historically onsite
• A small-group format (max 10) with room for questions

It’s especially good if you’re new to wine but curious. The tour format is built to make the experience accessible, and the guide-led attention to smell/color/flavor helps you learn fast. If you’re an enthusiast, the head sommelier and varietal focus give you enough detail to feel satisfied.

If you’re expecting a party-style tasting or nonstop entertainment, this isn’t that. It’s thoughtful, instructional, and centered on the bodega and its wines.

Should you book the Wine Lovers: Wine Tasting Tour at El Grifo?

Yes—if you want a solid, Lanzarote-specific winery experience that mixes tasting with place and history. The strongest reasons to book are the head sommelier-led instruction, the museum inside the 1775 winery buildings, and the fact that you taste 6 onsite wines paired with local cheese rather than just sampling.

Skip it only if getting to the bodega is a hassle for you. Since hotel pickup isn’t included, your success depends on your transport plan. Also, if you don’t want any wine-centered activity at all, this tour is simply too on-theme.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the El Grifo Wine Lovers tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

Is the tour adults-only?

Yes. It’s only for adults (18+).

How many people are in the group?

It’s a small group limited to 10 participants.

What wines will I taste?

You’ll taste 6 wines produced onsite. The tour also specifically highlights the grape varieties malvasia, listán negro, and syrah.

Are food and cheese included?

Yes. The tour includes a cheese tasting to pair with the wines.

Do I get a museum visit?

Yes. The tour includes a brief visit to the Wine Museum.

What languages is the guide available in?

The live tour guide is available in Spanish and English.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is there a discount related to shipping wine?

Yes. The tour includes discounts on shipping to European countries.

What is the cancellation policy?

There’s free cancellation: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.