Canada Meets the Canary Islands:Launch of direct flights and a Spanish wine region that’s now closer to explore
bernardinopaula
Oct 12
4 min read
Tourism is an absolute economic backbone of the Canary Islands, generating over 35% to 37.7% of the regional GDP and supporting more than 40% of total local employment, according to a recent case study provided by the Tourism Organization of the Canary Islands.
Located 1,500 km south of mainland Spain, the Canary Islands enjoy year-round sunshine with an average of 24°C that supports a lush subtropical landscape known for its rich and distinct biodiversity.
The ambassador of Spain to Canada Alfredo Martínez Serrano had good reasons to travel to Montreal on October 5 to celebrate the unveiling of direct flights for the first time from Canada to the Canary Islands. Starting October 25, Air Canada will offer a 7-hour direct flight from Toronto to Tenerife and October 31 Montreal to Tenerife in 6.5 hours; while Air Transat will handle seasonal direct flights to Gran Canaria starting December 13 from Toronto and December 12 from Montreal.
Many representatives of hotels were present at this event as well as the tourism offices for Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lazarote islands.
Although the awareness for the consequences of 'mass tourism' is increasing globally, tourism handled well remains an important source of revenue for many destinations worldwide.
* Canarian gastronomic experience
The unveiling of direct flights for the first time from Canada to the Canary Islands was an opportunity for the Spanish Tourism office to celebrate and offer an 'Experiencia Gastranómica' at the PHI Centre in old Montreal.
In the presence of Canarian chef Manuel Rodriguez Berriel and Canarian sommeliere Trinidad Fumero García, those in attendance enjoyed an 8-service gastronomic experience, with each tapa explained in detail by the chef, and the sommeliere explaining why she chose the 3 selected wines for the entire experience.
The first wine, Albet i Noya Xarel-Lo El Fanio, available at the SAQ, an organic white wine from the Penedès region in Spain, produced entirely of Xarel-Lo, was paired with the first 3 tapas:
- vegetable soup with salpicón and caramelized Canarian onions
- selection of cheeses flavored with coriander and pepper, served with almonds
- tuna tartare with avocado, papaya, coriander and lime, accompanied by a passion fruit vinaigrette
The second wine, Otazu Premium Cuvée, (available at the SAQ) from the Vallée de l'Ebre in the Navarra region (Spain), a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20 % Merlot, was paired with the 3 main tapas, including the 2 meat tapas:
- fish timbale served with boiled mojo and local vegetables
- pork skewer, potatoes and cheese with paprika
- spicy Canarian rabbit served with two varieties of mojos
And the third and final wine, Otazu Chardonnay Fermentado en Barrica, (available at the SAQ) which I loved, to finish off the evening with the 2 dessert tapas:
- gofio mousse with honey and almonds
- honey rum sponge cake, accompanied by a gofio mousse and palm syrup
It was an absolutely deliciously fantastic 'Experiencia Gastronómica' tempting those in attendance to go ahead and book one of those first direct flights to the Canary Islands ASAP!
I was happy to have met and talked to sommeliere Trinidad Fumero García based in Tenerife’s Canary Islands, while she was in Montreal.
It was interesting to listen to her chat about the wine scene in those Spanish islands off the coast of Africa. Historically, the Canary Islands were not affected by the Phylloxera crisis which occurred in the late 19th century, peaking roughly between 1870 and 1900. Hence continuing to preserve their rare, ungrafted Vitis vinifera (pie franco) ancient vines. Isn’t that amazing?
It is also the Canary Islands that experience the longest harvest period starting in July until November.
Portuguese settlers and traders played a major role in shaping the viticulture and vine varieties of the Canary Islands starting in the 15th century.
Historical records note early vine plantings by figures such as Fernando de Castro, who planted vines on Tenerife in 1457. Portuguese influence is heavily reflected in the genetic profile of Canarian grapes such as Malvasia and Baboso Negro, known in Portugal as Alfrocheiro Preto.
Canary Counter in Toronto
At this event in Montreal I also met Celia Méndez Díaz who owns Canary Counter in Toronto. Pure coincidence, I was travelling to Toronto the following days and thus could not resist visiting this lovely wine bar, a bright-yellow building near Bickford Park on Harbord Street.
The owner Celia, with studies in Bordeaux and Burgundy and an MBA in wine marketing/management, grew up running around barrels and vineyards in Tenerife, where her family has made wine for generations. Her father, Juan Jesús Méndez, helped revive Canary Islands winemaking, proving these volcanic soils could produce world-class bottles.
Canary Counter is a tiny neighbourhood natural wine bar and bottle shop highlighting small, independent, family-owned winemakers from lesser-known regions. When I visited Canary Counter I was welcomed by the store wine guide Nate Cross, currently working on earning his WSET Diploma.
I let Nate guide me and started with a glass of:
- Viñátigo Listán Negro 2025, a wine from Celia’s dad, who has been the driving force behind the Canary Islands' grape revival, tracking down and rescuing varieties that were almost lost. Viñátigo's wines are his living archive. Listán Negro is Canary Islands' own, a grape born from a natural crossing of Listán Blanco and Negramoll, varieties brought by Portuguese and Andalusian settlers centuries ago.
- then I had a glass of the Envínate 'Migan' Tinto 2020. I love that Envínate is a collective project of four friends winemakers. The ‘Migan’ is a red blend of four plots from the area of La Perdma from red volcanic soils and altitudes ranging between 350 and 600 metres. Montijo gives 40% of the grapes, Tío Luis 30%, La Habanera 20%, and Las Suertes 10%.
I am now obsessed with wines from the Canary Islands and want to know more about the history of this wine region. A trip to the Canary Islands soon?
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