Tacoronte: Guided Winery Tour with Wine and Cheese Tastings

Canary wine has a volcanic story. At Bodegas Monje, you spend two hours learning how Tenerife’s soil, grapes, and family traditions shape four local wines, each matched with a different cheese. I especially like the four carefully paired tastings and the chance to hear how the Monje family has made wine here since 1750. The coastal views add plenty of charm.

I also like that this is a small-feeling, family-run experience rather than a polished factory visit. Guides such as Natalia and Caleb have been praised for making the history lively and easy to follow. The main consideration is that the tour may feel brief if you want a detailed walk through the vineyards or a technical lesson on pruning and grape growing.

Key points at a glance

• Four wines, four cheeses: Taste Dragoblanco, Hollera, Monje Tradicional, and barrel-aged Listán Negro with cheeses from Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria.
• A winery with family roots: The Monje family has operated at this site since 1750, giving the tour a strong sense of place.
• Volcanic wine country: You learn why Canary wine tastes different and how Tenerife’s volcanic soil affects local grapes.
• Wonderful setting: Bodegas Monje has attractive grounds, vineyard views, and a coastal panorama from the property.
• Good value at $41: The price includes the guided visit and all four wine and cheese pairings, with no need to buy a separate tasting flight.
• Easy to fit into a Tenerife day: The tour lasts two hours, is available in Spanish and English, and the winery is wheelchair accessible.

Arriving at Bodegas Monje in El Sauzal

Bodegas Monje is in El Sauzal, north of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, at a winery surrounded by vineyards and broad views toward the coast. The setting is part of the appeal. You are not simply walking into a tasting room, sampling wine, and leaving. The building and grounds give you a sense of the place where the wine is made.

If you are coming from the cruise port, plan your transport carefully. One visitor paid about €45 each way by taxi from the port, though the winery staff helped arrange the return. Even with that added cost, the total was considered better value than a cruise-line wine excursion. That comparison makes this outing especially useful for cruise passengers who want an independent alternative.

The restaurant can become busy, so I would reserve ahead if you want to stay for lunch. Several people enjoyed the tour enough to remain on the property for a meal, and the setting gives you a good reason not to rush away immediately.

A 1750 family story, told inside the winery

The tour begins with an introduction to the Monje family and the winery’s long connection to Tenerife wine. Since the family has worked here since 1750, the history is not an added speech pasted onto a modern attraction. It is tied directly to the building, the vineyards, and the bottles you taste later.

The guide explains the Canary Islands wine tradition and the grape varieties grown in volcanic soil. This context matters because Canary wine is not simply Spanish wine transported to an island. The climate, soil, and local production methods give the wines their own character.

Guides have made a strong impression here. Natalia was praised for being well informed while keeping the visit light and humorous. Caleb was singled out for making the experience particularly enjoyable, and other guides have been described as friendly, clear, and enthusiastic about their work.

The language is an important practical point. Tours are offered in Spanish and English, but the pace of English explanation can vary. One English-speaking visitor found the guide spoke quickly and assumed some prior wine knowledge. Another said a bilingual tour gave more detail in Spanish than in English. If wine terms are new to you, do not hesitate to ask for a slower explanation.

On Saturdays and Sundays, English tours are scheduled at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Check the available start time when booking, since the language and timing matter if you are fitting this around a cruise, a meal, or another Tenerife activity.

What you see during the winery visit

The visit takes you through the winery and production areas, where you learn about the path from vineyard to bottle. You may see the working side of the property rather than only a decorative tasting room. The building itself has attracted plenty of praise, and the interior gives the tour a sense of substance.

The guided portion has sometimes lasted less than an hour, even though the full activity is scheduled for two hours. That is not necessarily a problem. The remaining time is used for the tasting, conversation, and time to enjoy the property. Still, you should not expect a long agricultural walk through every row of vines.

This is the main limitation for anyone hoping for a technical vineyard tour. A walk among the grapevines, with more explanation of the plants, pruning, and seasonal work, would make the visit stronger. You can see the vineyards from the property and stroll around afterward, but the focus remains the winery and tasting.

That focus suits you if you want a relaxed introduction to Canary wine. It may disappoint you if your main interest is vineyard management or a serious study of grape cultivation.

The four wine and cheese pairings

The tasting is the heart of the experience. Four wines arrive with four artisan cheeses, and each pairing is chosen to show a different side of Canary food and drink. The cheeses are mainly goat cheeses, with one final cheese made from goat and sheep milk.

Dragoblanco with fresh Tenerife goat cheese

The tasting begins with Dragoblanco, a young white wine from Tenerife, paired with fresh goat cheese. This is a gentle way to start. The fresh cheese lets you focus on the wine’s lighter style without a strong, aged flavor getting in the way.

For someone who does not usually drink wine, this first pairing may be the easiest entry point. It also introduces the close relationship between island wine and local dairy products.

Hollera with smoked goat cheese from La Palma

Next comes Hollera, a young red made using carbonic maceration. That process gives the wine a character different from a standard young red, and it was one of the bottles that made the strongest impression on visitors who wanted to taste something unfamiliar.

The match is smoked goat cheese from La Palma. The smoke adds weight and salt to the pairing, giving the red wine more to work against. If you tend to order conventional wines, this is the point where the tasting becomes more surprising.

The guide explains the production method, though the amount of detail may depend on the pace of the session and your own interest. Ask questions here if carbonic maceration is new to you.

Monje Tradicional with peppery cheese from Fuerteventura

The third pour is Monje Tradicional, a young red wine paired with semi-cured goat cheese from Fuerteventura. The cheese has a peppery character, so this pairing feels firmer and more savory than the opening combination.

This is a useful reminder that the tasting is not only about ranking the wines. The cheese changes how each glass tastes. A wine you find ordinary on its own may seem more balanced once paired with the right salty or spicy bite.

Barrel-aged Listán Negro with cured goat and sheep cheese

The final wine is a barrel-aged red made from Listán Negro. It comes with cured goat and sheep milk cheese from Gran Canaria, the most mature pairing of the four.

Ending with the aged red makes sense. The cured cheese has enough flavor to keep pace with the barrel-aged wine, and the combination gives the tasting a stronger finish. If you enjoy red wine, this may be your favorite part. If you prefer whites or lighter reds, the first two pairings may suit you better.

The selection also gives you a quick tour of the Canary Islands through food. Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria all appear on the tasting board. That regional spread adds meaning to the cheese course and helps connect the winery to the wider island culture.

Why the volcanic setting matters

The tour does more than tell you that the soil is volcanic. It explains why Canary wine has its own identity. Tenerife’s grape growing takes place in an island environment shaped by volcanic ground, and the wines reflect local conditions rather than copying mainland styles.

You may find the wines milder or less forceful than some French or other European reds. That is not a flaw, but it is worth knowing before you arrive. The tasting is about discovering Canary styles, not finding a substitute for a Bordeaux or a Rioja.

The setting helps make that point. Looking out across the vineyards and coast while tasting wine gives you a physical connection to the island. The views are not a side note. They help explain why a winery visit in Tenerife feels different from one in a large mainland wine region.

The views, building, and time after the tasting

Bodegas Monje is one of those places where you should leave a little breathing room. The property has attractive architecture, vineyard views, and a belvedere terrace where you may be able to enjoy the surroundings after the formal tasting.

A rainy day does not necessarily ruin the outing. The winery and tasting provide indoor time, while the property still offers visual appeal when the weather turns gray. On a clear day, the coast and vineyards give you better photo opportunities.

The shop is another useful stop. You can buy bottles and other local products, although air passengers may have limited space or luggage restrictions. If you find a wine you like, note the name during the tasting rather than relying on memory later.

The restaurant is worth considering, but food and drinks beyond the included tasting cost extra. Since the restaurant can fill up, reserve in advance if lunch is part of your plan. The tour itself does not include a full meal, so do not arrive expecting the cheese tasting to replace lunch.

Is $41 a fair price?

At $41 per person, the experience offers a solid amount for a two-hour activity. You receive a guided winery visit, an introduction to the Monje family, an explanation of Canary wine, four wine samples, and four matched artisan cheeses.

The value is strongest if you already plan to visit northern Tenerife and can reach El Sauzal without a costly taxi. The price becomes less attractive if you must add a long private transfer, though it can still compare favorably with a cruise excursion. A taxi from Santa Cruz or the port may cost more than the tour itself, so check transport before booking.

I also like that the tasting is not built around one generic cheese plate. Each cheese has a stated origin and a reason for being served with a particular wine. That level of matching makes the $41 easier to justify than a basic tasting with a few unconnected samples.

It is less suitable if you want a large lunch, extensive vineyard walking, or a full bottle included. Additional food and drinks are not part of the price.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

You will likely enjoy Bodegas Monje if you want a relaxed cultural activity with plenty of flavor and scenery. It works well for couples, solo visitors, small groups, and anyone who wants an alternative to the beach or resort routine.

It is also a good choice if you do not know much about wine. The cheese helps make the tasting approachable, and even a reluctant wine drinker may find a pairing to enjoy. You do not need to arrive as an expert, though you may need to ask the guide to slow down if the English explanation moves quickly.

Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the unusual carbonic-maceration red and the chance to compare several Canary styles in one sitting. You may want more technical detail, however, especially about the vineyard plants and production methods.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a practical option for visitors who need an accessible activity. Spanish and English are available, with weekend English departures at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Should you book Bodegas Monje?

I would book this tour if you want a friendly introduction to Tenerife wine, a beautiful setting, and a tasting that takes local cheese seriously. The strongest reasons are the family history, the four thoughtful pairings, the unusual Hollera, and the chance to linger at the property afterward.

I would skip it only if your priority is a long vineyard walk or a highly technical wine lesson. In that case, the guided visit may feel too short. For most people, though, $41 buys a pleasant and genuinely local half-day centerpiece, especially if you add lunch and leave time for the views.

FAQ

Where does the winery tour take place?

The tour takes place at Bodegas Monje in El Sauzal, Tenerife, Spain.

How long does the experience last?

The scheduled duration is two hours. The guided winery portion may feel shorter, with the rest of the time used for the wine and cheese tasting and time at the property.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $41 per person.

What does the price include?

The price includes the guided winery visit and wine and cheese tastings.

Which wines are included?

The tasting includes Dragoblanco, Hollera, Monje Tradicional, and a barrel-aged Listán Negro.

Which cheeses are served?

The pairings include fresh goat cheese from Tenerife, smoked goat cheese from La Palma, semi-cured peppery goat cheese from Fuerteventura, and cured goat and sheep milk cheese from Gran Canaria.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is available in Spanish and English. On Saturdays and Sundays, English tours are scheduled at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Is Bodegas Monje wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.