Bodegas Los Bermejos - Listán Negro Lanzarote 2023

Owned and run by winemaker Ignacio Valdera, Bermejos is on the easternmost island of Lanzarote. Only 125km from the African coast, conditions here are extreme. A volcanic explosion that lasted from 1730-1736 covered the entire island in lava and ash 3-5 meters deep. Consequently, each vine must be planted in a hole or hoyo that breaks through that infertile volcanic crust of petrified lava to the organic matter that can nourish it. The wind, which acts as a natural fungicide, is so ferocious that each hoyo is surrounded by rock walls for protection. The flora on Lanzarote  – including the vines – cannot grow up very high; there are not enough nutrients in the soil to support sprawling greenery. Yields are miniscule (16 hL/ha) and each berry is concentrated with flavor.

All vineyard work is done meticulously by hand. Some of the wines are certified organic, depending on the vintage. Ignacio supplements his crop with purchased fruit from growers who share his vision of sustainable viticulture; with such low yields the winery would have to own most of the land on the island in order to produce financially sustainable quantities of wine from exclusively proprietary grapes.

Multiple plots of old, prephylloxera vines planted in “hoyos” small holes with rock walls to protect them from the trade winds. Black Volcanic ash that retains the little water the island sees. Under the volcanic ash there are a variety of different soils depending on the area - clay, sand, and even limestone. 

Sustainable practices, grapes are hand harvested from ungrafted vines. Grapes are destemmed and fermented in large vats for 15 days.

Pressed and malo- lactic is completed. Aged four months in French Oak from the Allier forest.

Producer: Los Bermejos

Country: Spain

Region: Canary Islands

Varietal: Listan Negro

Appellation: Lanzarote

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml