Every now and then a wine from the Canary Islands pops up and reminds the mainland that some rather good bottles are being produced out here in the Atlantic.
This time it’s a rosé from Arafo in Tenerife that’s getting the attention.
Ferrera Rosado Seco, produced under the PDO Islas Canarias, has just been recognised as the Best Rosé Wine of the Year by the winemakers and sommeliers behind La Vanguardia’s Wine Guide.
Not a small achievement.
The wine scored 96 points and made it into the guide’s list of the 100 most essential wines for 2026, putting this small family-run winery firmly on the national stage.
According to sommelier Meritxell Falgueras, the wine is “clean and vibrant”, with surprising notes of candy and flowers.
It’s made entirely from Listán Negro grapes, grown at around 1,000 metres above sea level, which is fairly typical of the volcanic vineyards you find in parts of Tenerife.
Interestingly, the award ceremony in Barcelona also highlighted the volcanic winemaking talent coming out of Lanzarote, so it seems the Canary Islands are having a bit of a moment in the Spanish wine world.
Not bad for a group of islands more famous for beaches than vineyards.
Still, if you’ve spent any time exploring the wineries around Tenerife, you’ll know there’s some seriously good wine being produced here.
This award just proves the point.