Tenerife Town Names New Street "Kalimotxo" to Honor Local Industry
The town of Tacoronte in Tenerife has officially named a street "Kalimotxo" to celebrate the proximity of its local Coca-Cola bottling plant and regional winery.
Street names are usually chosen to honor history, geography, or local institutions, but the town of Tacoronte in Tenerife has taken a much more unconventional approach. The local council has officially named a road "Kalimotxo"—using the original Basque spelling—to connect the town’s soft drink bottling plant with its regional winery.
This decision, which is believed to be a first for any street in Spain, began as a local joke. Because the Coca-Cola bottling plant and the Tacoronte-Acentejo winery are located right next to each other, residents often joked about the proximity of the two ingredients used to make the popular "kalimotxo" cocktail. When the idea was proposed, the leaders of both companies supported it, leading the council to make it official. The use of the Basque spelling is a nod to the drink’s origins, where it has been a staple for over 50 years.
The new name is more than just a bit of fun; it highlights the two very different industries that drive the local economy. While winemaking is central to the region’s history, the Coca-Cola plant has been a major industrial force since 1996, producing 120 million liters of beverages annually using local water sources.
From an urban planning perspective, the name represents a unique intersection of consumer culture and local identity. It shows how community input can shape public spaces, turning a lighthearted observation into a permanent part of the town’s map. By reaching a consensus between residents and local businesses, the council has created a name that literally and symbolically links the two pillars of Tacoronte’s economy.