Producer Profile
Bodega Lava
Gran Canaria, Spain
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Bodega Lava
Santa Brígida, Gran Canaria, Spain
Three siblings on a quest to bottle an island’s soul
Siblings Mari Carmen, Guillermo, and Juan Manuel Martín Monzón established Bodega Lava in 2012, quickly earning acclaim from wine experts who now rank their wines among Spain’s finest. Their boutique winery has become renowned for masterfully expressing the distinct elegance and layered complexity found in the terroirs surrounding the picturesque villages of Santa Brígida and San Mateo.
Location: Santa Brígida, Gran Canaria, Spain
Working with us since: 2020
Viticultural Standards: Organic (non-certified)
Interesting fact: The exceptional quality of Lava Tinto’s 2017 vintage earned remarkable recognition when Ferrán Centelles, who previously served as head sommelier at the prestigious El Bulli restaurant, selected it as one of Spain’s top five wines in 2018. He particularly praised the wine’s remarkable freshness and distinctive volcanic character, which manifests through its pronounced mineral aromatics.
Bodega Lava’s wine
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OUT OF STOCKSALE
LAVA Tinto
£24.00
Bodega Lava represents the passionate vision of siblings Mari Carmen, Guillermo, and Juan Manuel Martín Monzón. The brothers’ extensive background includes formal education in oenology and viticulture, complemented by two decades of hands-on experience working with various renowned wine producers. In 2012, they embarked on an ambitious family venture alongside their sister, establishing Bodega Lava. The winery’s name pays homage to the volcanic soils characteristic of the Canary Islands. These distinctive lava-based soils, combined with the unique microclimate, challenging topography, and indigenous grape varieties, create an exceptional terroir that the Martín Monzón siblings have masterfully learned to cultivate.
Their intimate winery operation is based in Santa Brígida, a charming village in northeastern Gran Canaria. Here, they meticulously tend to two exceptional vineyard sites positioned at elevations ranging from 700 to 1000 metres. These vineyards showcase a diverse array of grape varieties, including Verijadiego Negro, Listán Negro, Tintilla, Baboso Negro, and the aromatic Moscatel de Alejandría, each contributing its unique characteristics to their wines.
Beyond their own meticulously managed vineyards, they have cultivated strong partnerships with select growers in the prestigious San Mateo region. These carefully nurtured relationships grant them access to extraordinary plots situated at an impressive altitude of 1100 meters. These sites feature cherished old Listán Negro vines thriving in ‘picón’ – a distinctive soil composition consisting primarily of volcanic ash, which imparts unique characteristics to the resulting wines.
Since releasing their inaugural wines in 2013, Bodega Lava has rapidly cultivated an enthusiastic following while garnering international acclaim. Their highly limited production wines consistently sell out quickly after release. The winery maintains an intentionally small annual production of just 4000 bottles, with the majority dedicated to their celebrated flagship red, supplemented by extremely limited special vineyard selections. Through careful cultivation of both their vines and reputation, they have steadily established themselves as producers of some of Gran Canaria’s finest wines, characterized by their pure expression and elegant sophistication. Their thoughtful approach to winemaking, combined with their deep respect for their unique terroir, continues to elevate their status in the wine world.