Tenerife Bodegas Monje Winery Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting

Cheese, wine, and a view over El Sauzal. At Bodegas Monje, I like the family-run winery tour plus the four wine-and-cheese tastings, guided in English by friendly staff like Irine and Claudia. One thing to consider is that the flow can feel time-tight on weekends, since the tasting may come before the tour depending on your booking time.

I also appreciate the value for a 90-minute, max of 10-person experience with snacks and alcohol included, not just a quick pour-and-go. Just know there’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll want to plan how you’ll get to C. Cruz de Leandro, 36 in El Sauzal, then back again after it ends at the same spot.

Key highlights at a glance

• Four Canary wines, four island cheeses, paired in a set tasting order
• Max 10 people, so you get time to ask questions (and not just stand in line)
• English tours on weekends at 11am and 5pm, with special timing if you book 4pm
• Views from the terrace or patio toward the Atlantic and often toward Teide
• Family-run operation with wine-making steps shown during the guided portion

Where Bodegas Monje fits on a Tenerife itinerary

If you want a Tenerife stop that feels more local than touristy, this is a strong pick. It’s based in El Sauzal, and the setting matters. From the winery areas, you get that mix of coastal air and volcanic backdrop that makes a short tasting feel like a proper outing.

What makes Bodegas Monje especially appealing is the pacing. You’re not signing up for a long bus tour. In about 1 hour 30 minutes, you get a guided look at the winery, then a structured tasting of four wines matched with four Canarian cheeses. That combo works well if you want flavor and context without spending half a day in transit.

The group size cap of 10 people also changes the feel. It’s easier to hear your guide, follow the tasting order, and actually ask why a wine tastes the way it does. A few reviews point out how interactive some guides were, and even when the tone varies by guide or day, the small format usually helps.

The price, and why it’s not just about the wine

The tour runs about $42.24 per person, for roughly 90 minutes. For that money, you’re paying for a guide, a guided winery tour, snacks, and a four-part wine-and-cheese tasting with alcoholic drinks included as listed. The price also includes 7% I.G.I.C tax, which helps avoid the “surprise fees” feeling.

Is it “cheap” compared with buying a single glass of local wine somewhere? Sure. But wineries rarely charge like bars because you’re not just drinking. You’re getting instruction, pairing, and a guided visit to their production space. The best way to think of it: this is more like a guided tasting class in a real winery setting.

You might also notice that reviews mention real generosity in pours. That matters because tastings can feel skimpy elsewhere. Here, the standard structure of four wines and four cheeses gives you enough variety to find at least one favorite, even if you don’t love every style.

One caution on value: a few people felt the tasting explanations were rushed or that the experience leaned more toward sales than education. That doesn’t seem to be the majority view, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re a serious wine nerd expecting a long, slow, deep technical masterclass.

Getting there in El Sauzal, and timing that actually matters

There’s no hotel pickup, and the tour ends back at the meeting point. The start point is Bodegas Monje, C. Cruz de Leandro, 36, 38360 El Sauzal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Plan on using a taxi or car, since the winery is not presented as a “walk from the city center” kind of stop.

Timing is where you’ll want to pay attention before you book. The tour is offered with mobile tickets, and it’s available in English. On Saturday and Sunday, English tours run at 11am and 5pm. If you book the 4pm option on those days, the tasting happens first, then the tour follows at 5pm.

Two more practical timing notes from the way the activity runs:

• The activity time is typically estimated at 90 minutes, but the schedule can shift, and tastings and tours can swap order (for example, tasting at 12 noon then tour at 1pm).
• The guides follow a pre-set schedule, so you’ll want to show up on time at the meeting point and not plan another tight appointment right after.

Dress code is simple: comfortable footwear and a coat. Even on warm days, winery buildings can feel cool, and you may also move between areas like a terrace and interior spaces.

Stop 1: the winery tour, then four Canary wines with cheese

This is the whole show. The experience is structured as a guided tour at Bodegas Monje, followed by wine tasting with cheese pairings. It’s designed to be one continuous flow rather than separate tours you do at different locations.

What the guided tour gives you

You’ll learn how this family-run winery produces and stores wine, and you’ll see equipment and cellar areas as part of the walk. Reviews consistently highlight that the tour feels like a real look at how wine is made, not just a brochure story.

Also, the small group helps the guide tailor the pace. Some guides were described as answering questions well and speaking across Spanish and English. If you’re the type who likes to ask why certain methods are used, this format gives you a better shot at a meaningful answer.

One limitation to know up front: the tour experience seems to be mostly inside the winery facilities, not a long outdoor vineyard hike. If your ideal day is wandering among rows of vines for an extended time, you may find the walking portion shorter than you expected.

The tasting format, and how to get the most from it

You’ll taste four home-produced wines, and each one is paired with a specific artisanal Canarian cheese. The pairing is part of the point, because each wine style is matched to a cheese from a different island region.

Here’s the tasting lineup in the order it’s described:

• Dragoblanco (young white wine) with a fresh white goat cheese from Tenerife
• Hollera (red wine made with carbonic maceration) with smoked goat cheese from La Palma
• MonjeTradicional (young red) with a semi-cured peppery goat cheese from Fuerteventura
• Listán Negro (red aged in the barrel) with cured goat and sheep milk cheese from Gran Canaria

If you’re new to wine tasting, you’ll still do fine. The experience is set up so you can follow along without needing a formal palate vocabulary. My practical tip: take a breath between pairings, taste one bite of cheese, then a small sip of wine. It makes the pairing logic easier to notice.

And since several reviews mention patios or terraces, you might taste with open views depending on the weather and the exact setup that day. Even if the inside portion is short, the viewpoint can make the tasting feel more memorable than a counter inside a shop.

The four wine and cheese pairings, what to look for

Let’s talk about what each pairing is trying to show you, because that makes the tasting more fun.

Dragoblanco and fresh Tenerife goat cheese

This one is your “reset” glass. A young white with fresh goat cheese usually means crisp, clean flavors. Expect brightness and a lighter texture in the tasting. Reviews frame it as a great start, and it’s also a good option if you’re not sure you’ll like red wine.

Practical note: fresh goat cheese can be tangy. Give it a second before you decide you love it or not. Many people find the wine softens the sharp edges.

Hollera and smoked La Palma goat cheese

Carbonic maceration often gives red wines a particular juicy, fruit-forward feel, and pairing it with smoked goat cheese creates an interesting contrast. You get smoke and fruit meeting in one glass-and-bite rhythm.

This pairing is likely the one that makes you stop and pay attention. If you like bolder flavors, keep your palate ready for it. If you don’t, it’s still valuable because it shows how different winemaking choices change the tasting experience.

MonjeTradicional and semi-cured peppery goat cheese

This is where the experience can get lively. A young red paired with a peppery semi-cured cheese tends to highlight spice, salt, and mouthfeel. It’s often the pairing people describe as more “wow” than expected because peppery cheese has a way of making even a simple young red feel complex.

If you love cheese more than wine, don’t skip smaller bites between sips. The pepper flavor builds quickly.

Listán Negro aged in the barrel and Gran Canaria cured goat and sheep cheese

A barrel-aged red usually means a deeper, more structured flavor profile than the earlier options. Pairing it with a cured mix of goat and sheep milk cheese pushes complexity further.

This pairing is your slower, more reflective finish. Even people who prefer one wine style over another often find an aged red plus cured cheese hits the spot at the end when you’re ready for something fuller.

Views, setting, and the small-group feel

Even beyond the wine, people remember the place itself. Reviews mention stunning viewpoints, with sightlines toward Teide and the Atlantic Ocean. They also mention a patio or terrace for tasting, which turns the experience from purely instructional into something you’d want to linger in.

Because you’re maxed at 10 people, the setting usually stays comfortable. You’re not stuck shoulder-to-shoulder, and that helps if you want to actually read the guide’s explanations rather than just catch the highlights.

A small caution from a handful of mixed notes: on some days, the tasting area can feel loud or more like an active shop space if you’re not in the terrace setup. If you’re sensitive to noise, ask the guide which area you’ll use for the tasting once you arrive, or watch for whether they plan to keep you outdoors.

Guides, friendliness, and what to do if you like more structure

English tours are offered, and reviews include real guide names such as Irine, Claudia, and Sonya. That personal touch matters. When guides are prepared and attentive, the tasting becomes a conversation, not a lecture.

Still, not every experience will feel perfectly paced. A few mentions include feeling rushed, spaced out rather than together, or having too much information without an easy reference list. If you want structure, be proactive:

• Ask for a quick recap of the wines and cheeses before you start the tasting.
• If you’re a question person, hold your questions until after the guide’s explanation so you’re not interrupting the flow.
• If you prefer quiet, choose your moments, because some winery areas may have other visitors nearby.

One more note that only matters for some tastes: one reviewer mentioned an event-style video with a wine-and-sex theme that made some people uncomfortable. The data here doesn’t guarantee you’ll see it, so I’d frame this as a heads-up. If that kind of presentation isn’t your style, you can politely request to skip anything non-essential and focus on the tasting and cellar walk.

Who should book this Tenerife wine and cheese tour

This is a great match if you:

• Want a short wine experience that still includes a guided tour
• Like cheese pairings and enjoy tasting multiple styles in one sitting
• Prefer small-group attention, max 10 people
• Care about views from a terrace or patio, not just a building tour

It may not be your best fit if you:

• Want an extended vineyard walk outdoors as the main event
• Expect a slow, ultra-technical tasting with minimal sales energy
• Are very sensitive to noise in indoor tasting spaces

If you’re coming from a cruise port, keep transport realistic. Reviews mention that it can be pricey by taxi from the port, and one person said a cab driver offered to wait for a small fee. If you’re using a driver, ask ahead how they’ll handle the wait time and return trip.

Should you book Bodegas Monje?

I’d book this tour if your ideal Tenerife day includes a real winery visit, four thoughtful wine-and-cheese pairings, and a good chance at sea and Teide views. The small group size, the set tasting structure, and the fact that it fits into 90 minutes make it easy to justify.

I would think twice if your main goal is a long outdoor vineyard experience or a slow, deeply technical class. In that case, the inside-focused winery tour and the set pace could feel too brief.

If you decide to go, I’d choose an English time that makes your day easiest. On weekends, English tours are at 11am and 5pm, and the 4pm option can switch the order so tasting comes first. Arrive a little early, wear comfortable shoes, and come ready to taste cheese as much as wine. That pairing is where the experience really clicks.

FAQ

How long is the Bodegas Monje wine and cheese tasting?

The activity is estimated at about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour includes English, and visits to the winery are given in Spanish and English.

What time are English tours on Saturday and Sunday?

On Saturday and Sunday, English tours run at 11am and 5pm. If you book the 4pm option, the tasting happens first, followed by the tour at 5pm.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What is included in the price?

A professional guide, food tasting, wine tasting, snacks, and alcoholic beverages as specified in the tasting itinerary. Admission ticket is included, and 7% I.G.I.C tax is included.

Is there a vegetarian option?

Yes, a vegetarian option is available. You should advise the team at booking.

Where do I meet for the tour?

The meeting point is Bodegas Monje, C. Cruz de Leandro, 36, 38360 El Sauzal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.