El Grifo Winery in Lanzarote Launches Wine in Honor of the Artist and Architect César Manrique

César Manrique is a legend in Lanzarote. An acclaimed artist, sculptor, architect and activist, when he passed away in 1992 he left behind works like Taro de Tahiche, his volcano house; the tourism center at Jameos del Agua; the visitor’s center at Timanfaya National Park; and the Cactus Garden.

In an effort to pay homage to the artist and his work, El Grifo, which is the oldest winery in the Canary Islands, has produced a special wine called Malvasía de César. The family behind the winery and Manrique had a close relationship, which led the former to create this exclusive wine, of which there are only 14,000 numbered bottles.

This dry white wine is made 100% with volcanic Malvasía grapes, which are native to Lanzarote, and was aged on lees for over a year. It has a dense, mature, balsamic aroma with notes of roses, saffron, and eucalyptus, as well as high acidity. On the palate it’s smooth and persistent, and it’s also suitable for ageing. In short, El Grifo’s creation is elegant and complex and has its own unique personality.

The winery also collaborated with the César Manrique Foundation so that the bottle’s label includes part of a mural called “Lanzarote,” completed by the artist in 1953 at the island’s local airport.