Vines planted in pits of black ash, without a single reliable drop of rain. La Geria is one of the strangest and most beautiful agricultural landscapes on the planet.
A vineyard without rain
Lanzarote has almost no rainfall. The vine survives because the volcanic ash (the picón) traps the night's moisture and passes it down to the root. Each plant sits in its own pit, sheltered from the wind by a semicircular stone wall. The result is a landscape that looks like another planet.
The volcanic Malvasía grape
The reigning variety is the volcanic Malvasía, adapted to this singular soil. It yields dry, mineral white wines as well as sweet ones of real character. They taste like no other wine: the lava soil makes itself felt in the glass.
How to visit it from the hotel
La Geria is a good half-hour from Playa Blanca. Several family wineries (bodegas) offer tours and tastings. It is one of the outings that works best for guests of the Royal Mónica: a morning among craters and wine, then back to the sun.
What to take home
A bottle of dry Malvasía to remember it by and, if you have a sweet tooth, a Moscatel. They take up little room in the suitcase and you won't find this quality off the island.
Lanzarote is not just beach and volcano. It is also one of the most singular vineyards in the world, half an hour from the hotel.
