Rarely has a specialized medium captured the essence of our work with such sensitivity as MiVino magazine did in its extensive report on El Grifo on the occasion of our 250th anniversary. Titled "250 Years of Improbable Lives," the article reviews our history, our present, and the future of this winery, founded in 1775 and which, since then, has listened to the pulse of an island as unique as Lanzarote.
The publication details our heroic viticulture , marked by pits dug into the volcanic ash and protected by traditional stone walls. It highlights how this impossible cultivation has resulted in unique wines, born from lava and wind, and how our winery has become a benchmark for resilient and sustainable adaptation. As our winemaker Elisa Ludeña states in the report: "Without that ash, which retains water and nourishes the vines, we would be nothing."
The article also highlights that El Grifo has been a pioneer since its inception: the first to bottle in the Canary Islands, promoters of regenerative viticulture to restore soil biodiversity, and innovators with unique projects such as the winter harvest.
MiVino celebrates the memories we hold in our Wine Museum , from the founding stone to historic Malvasía barrels from 1881, and recalls how Fermín and Juan José Otamendi today represent the fourth generation of the family at the helm of the winery. It also gives voice to our winegrowers, the silent protagonists of this legacy, and to the wine tourism experiences that invite you to discover the soul of Lanzarote: from the oenological library to our recently opened Hotel El Grifo , which embodies the spirit of slow living.
The report also highlights the winery's connection to art and culture , evoking the influence of César Manrique—creator of the logo that has been with us for decades—and of artists and writers who have passed through our doors, such as José Hierro and Saramago.
For the entire El Grifo team, seeing ourselves reflected in a medium like MiVino , which reaches half a million wine-loving readers, is confirmation that our story of "improbable lives" lives on and resonates. This 250th anniversary is not only a celebration of the past, but also a commitment to the future: to continue caring for the land, innovating in the vineyard, and sharing Lanzarote's unique identity with the world.
