产区详情

Ycoden-Daute-Isora is a DO title that covers roughly the western quadrant of Tenerife, the largest of the Spanish Canary Islands. It takes its name from the tribal territories of the Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the Canaries. The designation centers around the town of Icod de los Vinos and is one of the most dynamic DOs in the region. It received DO status in 1994.

Winemaking was introduced to the area in the 15th Century shortly after the Spanish conquerors arrived on Tenerife's shores. Following Spanish settlement, the island's Draconae draco (dragon tree) became a popular resource of the land, thanks to its healing powers.

The tree has now all but disappeared apart from a handful of examples, believed to be around 300 years old, one being dubbed "El Drago Milenario" ('the thousand-year-old dragon') in Icod itself. One in Orotrava, further east along the coast, is reputedly even older.

Other than the dragon tree's magical sap, sweet sack wines (fortified Spanish whites) from Tenerife were a popular export.

The region features jagged coastlines and rich green vegetation as the land climbs steadily from the coast to the center of the island, which is dominated by Pico del Teide (Mount Teide), the third-highest active volcano in the world (after Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii).

The vineyards of Ycoden-Daute-Isora are located at varying altitudes on the slopes of Pico del Teide, although the best wines come from grapes planted at higher elevations of up to 1400m (4600ft).

The soil is largely volcanic in origin and the climate is hot maritime during the growing season, although the local Alicios (trade) winds bring in moisture from the sea. By contrast, the winters can be very cold.

These variable features of its terroir make Ycoden-Daute-Isora an interesting wine-growing area with site-specific qualities. More than 20 grape varieties are authorized and grown across the DO but Listan Blanco (Palomino) is by far the most favored, producing lively, fresh white wines with varying amounts of residual sugar.

That said, dry and off-dry wines are by far the most common. Listan Blanco accounts for approximately 70 percent of all plantings, although it is slowly decreasing. Malvasia is also used to make traditional sweet wines. Other important white grapes include Bermejuela (Marmajuelo), Gual (Bual), Moscatel and Albillo.

In terms of red wines, Listan Negro accounts for around 20 percent of vines with Negramoll occupying around five percent. Other red curios include Malvasia Rosada, Moscatel Negro (or Black Muscat/Muscat Hamburg), Tintilla and Vijariego Negro

Ycoden-Daute-Isora also produces quality barrel-matured red wines from the native Listan Negro and Tintilla (Trousseau) grape varieties. Interestingly, wines were traditionally fermented in chestnut barrels, but stainless-steel barrels are now used almost everywhere.