With the wines of the Canary Islands now firmly established in markets across the US, it is always refreshing to see new wineries pop up in the scene. Next to the most recognizable names from the Islands we are slowly seeing a new generation of growers exploring the varied terroirs of the Archipelago.

Loreto Pancorbo and Gabriel Morales from Tierra Fundida (Molten Earth) are such growers. Living and making wine out of their house/winery deep into the country in Tenerife, they started their label in 2017, after years of working in more conventional wineries. The motivation to start their own label and build their winery came naturally. The family lives as sustainably as possible, taking advantage of their large vegetable garden and the animals they raise.

Their wines come from seven different vineyards spread around 7 hectares in the zones of Tacoronte, and Los Realejos (in the Orotava Valley). The 5 hectares in Tacoronte (where the majority of their red varieties come from) have historically been farmed organically but they are quickly introducing biodynamic practices, treating the soils not only with the 500 preparation, but using Maria Thun’s preparation, trying different tea infusions, and plants to enrich the land.

The whites come from two vineyards in Orotava, where temperatures are typically lower during the maturation period. There they are experimenting with different cover crops, feeling the difference between what they planted versus the spontaneous cover crops.

Their tiny production of 10,000 bottles is handled artisanally. There is no machinery in the winery, the racking is done by gravity, and the wines are made from whole clusters, except for one white that is de-stemmed manually. The wines are made in concrete and uncoated clay amphorae (to minimize the reductive quality of so many wines from the area), as well as old wood and even demijohns.