Wine Lovers: Wine Tasting Tour at El Grifo Bodega Lanzarote

El Grifo turns wine tasting into real history on Lanzarote. You get a guided look at a working bodega, a brief museum visit, and a head sommelier tasting of 6 onsite wines.

I especially love how the tour explains why these wines taste the way they do, not just what to sip. I also like the pairing style, with local cheese snacks that actually help you notice aromas and flavors.

One thing to consider: there’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll need your own way to get there, and the outdoor parts can be windy and set on lava-stone ground.

Key things that make this wine tour worth your time

• A small group size (10 max), so you can ask questions as you go, without shouting over everyone else
• 6 wines, professionally guided, with a tasting format that focuses on smell, color, and flavor
• El Grifo’s museum stop, tied to the old winery site that operated from 1775
• Grape-focused learning on malvasia, listán negro, and syrah, plus how wind and volcanic soils affect them
• Vineyard walking, including views of the vines grown in protected stone enclosures

Entering El Grifo, Lanzarote’s historic bodega

I love starting a wine visit at the source, and El Grifo is the kind of place where the building and the land do the talking. The tour is designed around one compact experience in about 2 hours, so it feels complete without turning into a whole day project.

You’ll meet your guide at the bodega for a guided tour and tasting with the head sommelier. The tour runs in Spanish and English, and it’s adult-only (18+).

This matters because wine tasting can go two ways: you either get a quick pour and a shrug, or you get context that makes the glass make sense. Here, you’re guided through both.

Walking Lanzarote vines, wind-smart and volcano-grown

Lanzarote’s wine growing is not “pretty rows.” It’s practical farming shaped by tough weather. During the outdoor portion, you’ll learn how trade winds and volcanic soil influence what gets grown and how the grapes perform.

In the field, pay attention to the setting. One thing I like about this tour is that you get to walk among the vines rather than only looking from a distance. In past tours, groups have mentioned seeing grape detail up close and exploring the vineyard layout that helps protect vines from the wind.

Expect the ground to be lava stones, and do not assume you can do it in slick shoes. A light jacket is also smart, because even a drizzle or steady breeze can happen, and waterproofs are sometimes offered on-site.

The El Grifo museum stop, where the story becomes physical

The museum portion is brief, but it adds weight to the tasting. You’ll visit the Wine Museum, which served as the old winery location from 1775 and is described as the oldest of its type in the Canary Islands.

Inside, you’ll see tools and utensils used in the 19th and 20th centuries, plus how the wines were made during that long stretch of operation until the closure in the 1990s. This is the kind of stop that helps you understand why wine culture here feels stubborn in the best way.

A small detail I appreciate: the museum approach is not just dates and display cases. It’s tied to production, so when you later taste the wines, you’re not guessing about tradition versus innovation.

The head sommelier tasting of 6 wines, built for your senses

This is the core of the experience, and it’s where you’ll get the most value from your ticket. You taste 6 onsite wines in a guided professional format, with the head sommelier talking you through what to look for.

The tasting style is hands-on in a gentle way. You’ll focus on smell, color, and flavor, and you’ll get help connecting what you notice to what the grape and process are doing. One review note that a written tasting sheet was helpful, and an interactive setup came up more than once, so plan on tasting that feels guided rather than chaotic.

You may also start with something light and refreshing. In at least one reported tour, guests described a refreshing fizzy white wine early in the process, which is a smart way to wake up your palate before richer pours.

Cheese pairing that actually helps you learn

Wine tastings often fail at pairing. Either the food is an afterthought, or it’s too generic to matter. Here, the cheese snacks are part of the learning.

You’ll have local cheese snacks paired alongside the wines. Some groups specifically mention goat’s cheese, and others mention that the pairing worked well across the range of wines.

If you have dietary needs, ask. One tour experience mentioned a lactose intolerance accommodation with swapped snacks instead of relying only on cheese. I would treat this as a “call ahead or ask on arrival” situation, not a guarantee, but it’s encouraging if cheese is a concern for you.

What you learn about malvasia, listán negro, and syrah

This tour is grape-focused for a reason. You’re not just tasting six bottles, you’re learning the identity behind the flavors. Expect explanation of the characteristics of malvasia, listán negro, and syrah.

And the most useful part is the connection to place. The guides talk about the role of trade winds and volcanic soils on the grapes growing on the family plot. In practical terms, that means you’ll better understand why these wines can taste different from what you might expect from the same named grape in a more classic wine region.

When you walk away from this kind of tasting with a clear mental map, the next bottle you buy becomes easier to decode. You don’t just say it’s good, you know what to look for next time.

Who will guide you, and why that matters

The tour is led by a guide and the head sommelier handles the tasting. What you can count on is a guided pace, with time for questions in a small group limited to 10 participants.

Language is covered too, with English and Spanish available. If you’re the type who wants to ask what those sour notes are from or what makes the finish change wine to wine, this size and format help you get answers without feeling rushed.

If you like a sense of real personality behind the glass, you’ll be in good hands. Names like Ana, Charlie, Minerva, Jaqueline, Jacqueline, Sonia, Jacky, Alessandra, and Alexandra have shown up as guides for past tours, and the common thread has been friendly, engaging explanations.

Practical details: timing, group size, and what to bring

This is a 2 hour experience, and that time feels intentional. You’re not staring at a clipboard for the full duration, and you’re not hopping around for half a day either.

Group size matters here. With a limit of 10 participants, the tour tends to stay fluid, and the guide can tailor explanations when people ask follow-ups.

What to bring:

• Trainers or easy-to-slip-off shoes, since lava-stone ground can be awkward
• A light jacket and something for drizzle, since wind and light rain can show up
• A water habit, especially if you’re tasting multiple wines

You might also like to plan a relaxed snack afterward. Several tour experiences mention grabbing light bites or continuing at a café, and that’s a sensible way to finish without sprinting into your next reservation.

Price and value: does $59 make sense for what you get?

At $59 per person for 2 hours, this sits in the “serious tasting, not just a splash” category. The value isn’t only the wine count, though 6 wines are included, and they’re onsite.

You’re also paying for:

• A guided tour of the historic bodega
• A visit to the museum
• Cheese pairing included in the experience
• Discounts on shipping to European countries (if you plan to mail bottles home)

The biggest value lever is the guide and sommelier time. If you’ve done tastings where you pour and then leave, this won’t feel like that. The tasting is structured around learning how to interpret the wines.

Potential drawback, again, is logistics. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you’ll want to factor in getting there and back.

Who this tour is best for, and who might want a different plan

This tour is a great fit if you:

• Love learning how grapes and place connect
• Want a guided tasting that helps you taste with a purpose
• Prefer a small group over big bus-style wine stops
• Enjoy history without turning it into a full museum day

It’s also a strong option for people returning to Lanzarote, because El Grifo offers something different from beaches and viewpoints. The winery setting is a working cultural site, and the vineyard walking changes the feel compared to a “sit and sip” tasting.

The main mismatch is if you want a purely relaxed, no-questions tasting. This one includes learning and guidance, and it’s designed for adults who want context.

Should you book the El Grifo wine tasting tour?

I’d book this if you want an efficient, high-signal wine experience in Lanzarote. 6 wines, cheese pairing, and a museum stop in a small group format makes it feel worth your time and money.

Book it with confidence if you like hands-on tasting and vineyard context, especially if you’re curious about malvasia, listán negro, and syrah and how volcanic conditions shape them. Skip it or choose another option if getting there is a hassle for you, since there’s no hotel pickup, and the walking portion can involve uneven lava-stone ground.

FAQ

How much does the El Grifo Wine Lovers tasting cost?

The price is listed as $59 per person.

How long is the tour?

The tour duration is 2 hours.

How many wines do you taste?

You taste 6 wines produced onsite, guided by the head sommelier.

Is cheese included?

Yes. There is a cheese tasting paired with the wines.

Do you visit a museum during the tour?

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

What grapes do they talk about?

The tour focuses on malvasia, listán negro, and syrah.

What group size should I expect?

It’s a small group limited to 10 participants.

Is this tour for children?

No. It is only for adults 18+.

Does the tour include hotel pickup or drop-off?

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

Is cancellation and pay later available?

Yes. There is free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and it also offers reserve now & pay later.