Eleven wineries from the Archipelago are taking part in the first edition of the WINEMAD trade fair, a meeting that brings together international buyers, distributors and experts from the sector to promote new business opportunities for Spanish wine.
The Canary Islands wine sector has this week strengthened its external projection with its participation in the first edition of WINEMAD, the International Wine Fair of Madrid, which is being held at IFEMA from 27 to 29 May. The presence of the Canary Islands is articulated through a promotional space promoted by the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canary Islands Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), in collaboration with Proexca, with the aim of opening new commercial channels for the wineries of the archipelago.
During the inauguration of the meeting, the Canary Islands Government’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty, Narvay Quintero, highlighted the strategic value of this type of event to raise the profile of Canary Islands wines among importers, distributors, restaurant chains and large buyers from different international markets.
Eleven wineries represent the islands’ wine diversity
The Canary Islands delegation is made up of eleven wineries from Tenerife, Lanzarote and La Palma, which showcase the uniqueness of wines marked by the volcanic landscapes, indigenous varieties and the unique climatic conditions of the archipelago. Among the participants are Tafuriaste, La Haya, Viña Gómez, El Lomo and Piedra Fluida, from Tenerife; Los Bermejos, Casa Althay, Vulcano Lanzarote and Erupción, from Lanzarote; as well as Teneguía and Veganorte, from La Palma.
The organisation expects more than 4,000 professionals and close to 200 international buyers from strategic markets such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, China, Japan and Singapore, among others, to attend.
Export growth underpins overseas commitment
Participation in WINEMAD comes at a time when Canary Island wines continue to consolidate their presence outside the Islands. Last year, wine exports from the Islands totalled 177,443 litres, with a clear focus on markets outside the EU. The United States remains the main international destination, followed by Canada, China and Japan, while in Europe Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands stand out.
These data reflect the growing interest in differentiated wines that have been able to position themselves in specialised market niches thanks to their volcanic origin, their territorial identity and the recovery of historical varieties.
Canary Islands wine tourism is also gaining in prominence
The Canary Islands’ presence at the fair is not limited to the commercial sphere. As part of the Wine Madrid Summit programme, a specialised forum that analyses trends and challenges in the sector, several companies from the Canary Islands are taking part in round tables focusing on wine tourism, gastronomy and connecting wine with new audiences.
The initiative is coordinated by the Clúster de Enoturismo de Canarias and supported by GMR Canarias, allowing to show the work that is developed in the Islands to turn wine into an experience linked to the territory, the landscape and the local culture.
In addition to professional meetings, WINEMAD includes tastings, workshops, gastronomic experiences and pre-arranged meetings between wineries and international buyers, favouring the creation of new commercial alliances and the opening of markets for Canary Islands products.
Participation in this first edition of WINEMAD confirms the Canary Islands wine sector’s commitment to strengthening its international positioning and continuing to bring the uniqueness of the Islands’ wines to some of the world’s most dynamic markets.
