Finca Malvasia - Unique Wines and Vines
Tarnya Norse Evans • 1 July 2022
The cultivation of wine on Lanzarote is something else, some might think impossible.
The major volcanic eruptions which took place around the 1730 's had a major impact on the agricultural ways of Lanzarote life. Grain production had been the main staple of the island agricultural production but with at least a third of the island now covered in lava, the farmers had to look for new ways to cultivate the land.
They turned their attention to wine cultivation. Many thought it would be impossible. Instead, they pressed on, developing more unique and now traditional methods of cultivation.
Single vines are planted in ‘picon’ pits (crushed volcanic ash) about four to five metres wide and one to two metres deep, semi-circular stone walls are placed around each pit. These are called Zocos and can be witnessed across the La Geria wine region. The two main varieties grown on the island are Malvasia, a small sweet green grape and Moscatel, which is the larger of the two and used to make beautiful sweet dessert wine. Across the island, the wine production industry employs around 1,500 people and collectively Lanzarote produces an average of 1.5 million litres of wine annually. Many of the Bodegas along the main La Geria road invite you in to sample the fruits of their labour.
Wine at Finca Malvasia
Finca Malvasia is a working vineyard of 20,000 square metres in the heart of the La Geria wine region. Finca Malvasia produces on average 7,000 kilos of grapes per year. The grapes grown here are sold to the local Vega De Yuco bodega - one of the finest wine producers on the island. Bottles of Vega De Yuco can be ordered for guests to enjoy on arrival. Harvest time takes place in early August, it's a labour intensive time as all the grapes are hand picked.

No individual has shaped the character of Lanzarote more than César Manrique. His vision was simple yet revolutionary: architecture should never compete with nature, but exist in harmony with it. Across the island, his influence can be seen in the whitewashed buildings, natural materials, volcanic stone and thoughtful integration of architecture into the landscape. His work helped preserve Lanzarote’s unique identity and established a legacy of sustainable design that continues to inspire today. Finca Malvasia shares this philosophy. The estate is a traditional Lanzarote finca, thoughtfully restored to celebrate its heritage while offering contemporary comfort. White walls, timber, volcanic stone and large picture windows reflect the island’s architectural language, allowing the surrounding vineyards and dramatic volcanic landscape to take centre stage. Adding to its unique story, the restoration and architectural vision for Finca Malvasia was guided by an architect who connected to César Manrique, bringing his principles of simplicity, authenticity and respect for place into every detail of the estate. Today, staying at Finca Malvasia is about more than beautiful accommodation. It is an opportunity to experience a piece of Lanzarote’s architectural and cultural heritage—where design, landscape and history come together in one of the island’s most remarkable settings.







