Tenerife Boosts Wine Sector with €2M, Honors Leaders
The Tenerife Island Council's annual "uncorking ceremony" celebrated the island's wine industry, announcing over €2 million in 2026 support and honoring Domingo Luis Martín Rodríguez de Acuña and José Hidalgo Togores for their contributions.
On Wednesday, November 26th, the Tenerife Island Council held its traditional "uncorking ceremony." This event marks the arrival of Saint Andrew, the patron saint of winemakers, whose feast day is celebrated on November 30th.
The ceremony took place at the Tenerife Wine House in El Sauzal. Representatives from the island's six wine regulatory councils were there to present their new wines to local and regional officials.
Valentín González, the Councillor for the Primary Sector, led the event. He praised the "effort and perseverance" of Tenerife's wine industry, especially during tough times like long droughts and the spread of phylloxera, a vine disease. González noted that this hard work helps Tenerife stand out as an island known for producing excellent wines, which have won many international awards.
The councillor also announced that the Island Council will increase its support for the wine sector in 2026. Over two million euros in direct aid are planned. This funding will include specific help to fight drought and phylloxera, improve how wines are tracked, and encourage new ideas in wineries. González stated, "We want to be a helpful tool for our producers."
During the ceremony, the San Andrés 2025 Award was given to Domingo Luis Martín Rodríguez de Acuña. He is a very important person in the Abona wine region and a leading figure in winemaking in southern Tenerife. Martín led the Regulatory Council from 2015 to 2024, a time known for openness, discussion, and aiming for the best quality. He has also strongly supported uniting the sector and worked towards creating a single management body for all Tenerife wines.
The Tenerife Wine House also recognized José Hidalgo Togores as a Tenerife Wine Ambassador. He is an agricultural engineer and wine expert with over 40 years of experience. Since 2012, his work as a technical advisor on the Enomac Project has helped many wineries on the island improve the quality of their wines, making him one of the most influential people in modern Tenerife winemaking.