Almudena Montserrat de León – La Vista de Tefía Vineyard

Almudena Montserrat de León is a trained preschool and primary school teacher who is becoming a professional wine producer on the La Vista de Tefía vineyard, where her winery is called Tibiabin as a tribute to the Majorero women (from Fuerteventura) and their traditional culture.

She tells us that this used to be her grandparents’ property and that she decided to update it and give it a new lease of life.

Almudena, what are your wines called?

Well, my daughter had the idea of calling them Aires de Tefía, which is quite suitable considering the winds that we usually get in Tefía.

This year, we produced a white wine, called Siroco, which is a bit stronger and another one called Brisa (breeze), because it is lighter. Do you only produce white wine?

This year, we also produced a red wine and the year before that, a rosé wine and the previous years, white wine only. How long has your vineyard been up and running?

It has been four years now. In truth, we were experimenting in the beginning, as we had to check how the vines were evolving, because from one location to another, the same variety reacts differently depending on the soil. In Tefía, the soil is rich in limestone, which the vines like, it is very different from the soil in the North or the South.

My grandparents fought a lot to obtain those plots of land to provide for their family, as farmers and livestock farmers and they also produced a little bit of wine.When I was a student, in Tenerife, my grandfather asked me to look for a thermometer that he was told would help produce wine. With some of my friends, we searched for adequate tools and I brought them over with my friends so that we could start producing wine for the family, nine children in total, who often used to meet up here. It’s great to have had the idea of reactivating this rural area that belongs to your family, but we would like to know if you are thinking of commercialising the wine or is it just for your relations?

I am naturally inquisitive and I have gone through various kinds of training, in addition to teaching. I have also graduated as a technician in tourism accommodation, I have taken many courses because I belong to the Majuelo de Fuerteventura wine association. I am part of the management team and it has all helped me learn more about the varieties and other aspects too.

I always try to produce wine with our varieties, those that my grandfather used to produce and at the same time, I bring back some life and greenery to our land, growing what it can produce.

Right now, I am growing the local Majorero barley with ancient seeds. It is good for the soil and we also use the grain to feed my Majorero donkey. Then, the straw is left on the ground to protect it.

I don’t use anything else, it is totally ecological, as I’d rather see the plant get damaged before the soil and for all the small animals to come and eat what they want. The bunches are manually wrapped up. We also do the pruning by hand, without any machines, it is arduous work, but it is some kind of hobby that helps relax me. Being in touch with nature helps to feel more relaxed and develops patience…

Of course, the vines take three to five years before we can start harvesting, this is why it is so tough living off this occupation. Also, the scarcity of rainfalls and the fact that we depend on water so much, make it harder again. I also have holiday accommodation and I offer some wine to my tenants, and we also organise tastings with other wines from the island.

My wines are easy to drink, I produce the wines that I enjoy and it seems that many people enjoy them too.

Some people like wine, although they don’t know much about it and here, we don’t only make them taste various favours, we also provide them with some knowledge concerning wine and emphasise the touristic value of this other aspect of the island.

The property benefits from a lovely sunset, and with a lovely glass of wine, it makes a perfect end to the day.

People who would like to taste them can register for some of the tastings we organise on Thursdays or Fridays.