Exploring the Exquisite Wine Selection at Grand Hotel Residencia: A Journey Through Local and International Flavours

Known for its excellent cuisine — fresh, inventive and deeply rooted in Canarian traditions — the restaurant at Grand Hotel Residencia is on a constant hunt for wines that can match Wolfgang Grobauer’s cooking. The extensive wine menu, which takes guests from the volcanic mountains of the Canary Islands to the famous wine regions of the Iberian Peninsula, is curated by Alba Bernal Suárez, Restaurant and Bar Director: “The selection process never ends. We are always monitoring market trends, always looking for new ways to surprise our guests. We regularly add exciting new wines from promising winemakers,” Alba tells us. Originally from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Alba’s passion for hospitality has taken her around Europe. “I feel that I have a much better understanding of what our guests are looking for thanks to my travels.” Always an avid learner, one of professional courses had introduced Alba to the world of wine, uncovering a passion for vintages, varieties and terroir. Alba finished a WSET training course and is now furthering her knowledge at the Grand Cru Academy.

Wolfgang Grobauer’s cuisine plays a significant role in shaping the restaurant's wine selection. The chef works with local suppliers, ordering fresh fish and seafood from the fishing ports of Mogán and Arguineguín, and sourcing fruit, vegetable and herbs from the nearby Finca Montaña la Data. His menus are creative, seasonal and always evolving, which means that the wine list needs to feature a diverse range of flavour profiles to complement the food.

Alba and Wolfgang work closely together, meeting for a briefing before each service: “Chef Grobauer tells me about the day’s specials, we’re discussing the key ingredients and tasting the food. I can then offer a wine pairing that will balance the flavours.” An extensive, carefully curated wine list enables Alba to provide a personalised experience for each guest, offering familiar favourites, as well as introducing diners to new wines from regions they may not have yet explored. Wine conversations with guests are one of the reasons Alba loves her job: “Feedback from our guests is essential and it plays a huge role in our decision-making process. Many of our guests stay at Grand Hotel Residencia regularly, so we ensure that there’s always something new for them to try, as well as their favourite wines they know they’ll enjoy.”

From the Canary Islands to the Iberian Peninsula: Discovering Regional Wine Gems

Grand Hotel Residencia’s wine menu takes its guests on a journey through the volcanic slopes of the Canary Islands and the world-famous wine regions of La Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Galicia on the Iberian Peninsula. There are bottles from the iconic regions of Bordeaux and Chianti, floral Mosel Rieslings and bold notes of the New World: Chile, Australia, New Zealand. But what truly echoes Wolfgang Grobauer’s cooking philosophy, is the large number of local wines, sourced on Gran Canaria and other Canary Islands. To Alba, local wines are inimitable: “Canarian wines are unique in the world because of their diversity and geographic location. They have undergone continuous evolution from the 15th century, when ‘Canarian wine' was first recognised, to the present day with the 'DOP Islas Canarias' designation.” Established in 2011, the Canary Island appellation (denominación de origen) is relatively young, highlighting wines from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote and El Hierro. All the main winegrowing islands are represented in Grand Hotel Residencia’s wine menu, offering a wonderful introduction to Canarian wines. “I always recommend exploring wines from different islands to experience a variety of climates and winemaking styles,” Alba adds.

Gran Canaria’s Indigenous Grapes: Discovering Listán Negro, Tintilla and More

Most of the islands have their own appellation, and the main Canarian producer, Tenerife, is divided into five winegrowing regions. The local Gran Canarian DOP was created in 2005, and requires winemakers to use native grape varieties, like Listán Negro, Negramoll, Tintilla, Listán Blanco, Malvasía Volcánica or Vijariego Blanco. The guests of Grand Hotel Residencia can try a cuvée of Lístan Negro y Tintilla, grown by Sandra Armas inside the biosphere reserve of Parque Rural del Nublo at Bodega Bentayga, or a Malvasía Volcánica from Bodegas Tamerán, which is quickly building a reputation for their unique, single-variety white wines.

What makes Gran Canarian wine so special is the unique combination of indigenous grapes, subtropical climate and volcanic soil. The wines have a distinct mineral taste and bold fruity notes: fragrant berries in reds, guava in whites. Grown on an island so rich in landscapes and microclimates — ranging from sandy dunes of Maspalomas in the south to the pine-covered mountains of the interior — Gran Canarian wines are extremely diverse. “Each winery has its own distinct characteristics,” Alba says, asked about her favourite. It’s impossible to choose: “I can honestly say that I enjoy drinking every single one on our list. Each one is exceptional in its own, unique way. What truly matters is finding the perfect occasion to enjoy them.”