Tenerife Island Wines Summit to Spotlight Island Viticulture
The uniqueness of island territories is reflected not only in their landscapes and culture but also in their wines. This is the goal of the Tenerife Island Wines Summit, an international event set to commence on Sunday, 21st June, placing the island at the forefront of global discussions on island viticulture. The summit, driven by Vocento Gastronomía with support from the Cabildo of Tenerife, Turismo de Tenerife, and Vinos de Tenerife, will bring together some of the most influential names in the international wine sector until Tuesday.
Event Highlights
Over the course of three days, the congress will offer masterclasses, tastings, and roundtable discussions featuring world-renowned figures such as Josep Roca, Paz Levinson, Pascaline Lepeltier, and Matteo Montone. Additionally, winemakers and producers from various archipelagos will share their experiences regarding the challenges and opportunities of island wines. Notable participants include António Maçanita, Aimilios Andrei, Simone Sedilesu, and Andrea Foti, who represent esteemed wine regions such as the Azores, Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily.
Comparative Analysis of Island Wines
The summit will facilitate comparisons of productive realities across different island territories, examining how factors such as climate, volcanic soils, altitude, and geographical isolation influence the character of their wines.
Tenerife Takes Centre Stage
Lope Afonso, Vice President and Tourism Councillor of the Cabildo, emphasised that the event presents an opportunity to establish Tenerife as an international reference point for island wines. He explained that the combination of microclimates, indigenous grape varieties, and viticultural traditions make the island an ideal platform for leading this global discourse on island wine production. Dimple Melwani, CEO of Turismo de Tenerife, also highlighted that the summit will strengthen the island’s position as a gastronomic destination of excellence and help showcase Tenerife wines to new international markets.
Interdisciplinary Insights
The programme will explore various perspectives on island wines, addressing scientific issues related to minerality and terroir, alongside discussions on cultural identity, sustainability, and new production trends. Participants include wine journalist Jamie Goode and Canadian expert François Chartier, who will examine some of the most debated characteristics of contemporary wine.
Discovering Tenerife’s Wine Heritage
The summit will feature sessions on new Mediterranean wines and discovery routes through the wine landscapes of Tenerife, highlighting the island’s agricultural heritage.
A Momentous Recognition
One of the summit’s highlights will be the selection of the first ‘Guardian of Tenerife Wine’, a title awarded to an international sommelier who will serve as an ambassador for Tenerife wines worldwide. The award will be presented by a jury comprising international experts, Cabildo representatives, local vintners, and producers. The recipient’s name will be revealed during the second day of the event.
The organisers look forward to Tenerife Island Wines Summit establishing itself as a pivotal meeting for industry professionals and a platform to enhance the international profile of wines produced in island territories.
