The municipality of Santa Brígida once again placed wine at the centre of its local development strategy with the celebration of the 1st Santa Brígida Wines Professional Conference, a meeting that demonstrated the maturity, diversity and projection of the municipality’s wine sector. The event, held at the emblematic Bodega San Juan, brought together winemakers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, wine growers, tasters and professionals from the world of haute cuisine in a space for dialogue, analysis and promotion of local wine.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Santa Brígida Town Council, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the Gran Canaria Wine Route, brought to a close the municipal programme “Santa Brígida with Wines”, developed during the month of November with the aim of raising the profile of the municipality’s oenological potential and strengthening its wine identity.
Institutional support and a tour through the wine-growing tradition
The meeting began with an institutional reception and the opening ceremony, which was attended by the Councillor for the Primary Sector, Food Sovereignty and Water Security of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Miguel Hidalgo, together with the Mayor of Santa Brígida, José Armengol, and the Councillor for Rural Development, Trade and Tourism, Carmen Juez.
After the official opening, the attendees were taken on a guided tour of the historic Bodega San Juan, one of Gran Canaria’s wine heritage landmarks, and then took part in a professional tasting of local wines. Each winemaker personally presented their wines, generating direct contact between producers and opinion leaders in the sector.
Professional debate on identity, market and future
One of the key moments of the day was the round table discussion entitled “Santa Brígida wine: identity, trends and professional vision”, which addressed the main challenges and opportunities for local wine. The debate was attended by Álvaro González Santana, manager of the Gran Canaria Wine Route; María Chaxiraxi Triana Higuera, from Canarywine; Rafael Hurtado Gil, maître-sumiller at the Hermanos Padrón restaurant; as well as representatives of wineries in the municipality, such as Carmelo Peña Santana (Bodega Bien de Altura) and José Domingo Deniz Santana (Bodega Rincón del Guiniguada).
During the conversation, the importance of territorial identity, the uniqueness of the wines of the midlands and the need for joint promotional strategies to strengthen the presence of Santa Brígida both in the local market and in specialised circuits outside the island were highlighted.
A roadmap based on quality and territory
The manager of the Gran Canaria Wine Route stressed that Santa Brígida has “a unique wine-growing ecosystem, where historic wineries and innovative family projects coexist, with a clear commitment to quality and the link with the landscape”. He also stressed that professional meetings such as this one allow the sector to align itself with a common vision, which is key to its future consolidation.
The closing of “Santa Brígida con Vinos” through a technical conference sends, according to González, “a clear message of commitment to a development model linked to the culture of wine, the territory and excellence”.
Training and networking as pillars of the sector
The day concluded with a space for professional networking, accompanied by a tasting snack prepared and served by the catering students of the IES Felo Monzón, highlighting the fundamental role of vocational training in the continuity and professionalisation of the wine and gastronomic sector of the island.
With initiatives such as this, Santa Brígida, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the Gran Canaria Wine Route consolidate their commitment to wine as an economic, cultural and tourist driving force, reinforcing the role of the wine sector in rural development and the projection of the territory.
