Mario Cabrera González highlights the Canary Islands Enotourism brand as a key driver in the sector's value chain

The deputy praised the work of the wine‑cluster and the boost of enotourism in Fuerteventura

The deputy of the Canary Islands Nationalist Group (CCa), Mario Cabrera González, addressed the Tourism and Employment Committee of the Parliament of the Canary Islands to underline the contribution of the wine sector throughout the archipelago and, in particular, the effort of Fuerteventura’s viticulturists to recover and consolidate this tradition on the island.

During his speech, Cabrera highlighted the work of the Canary Islands Enotourism Cluster and voiced his support for its main demands, which include:

• Greater financial assistance for the cluster
• Strengthening competitiveness
• Professionalising a sector that is currently experiencing strong growth

“The Canary Islands are not just sun and beach.”

He argued that the collective activity of the archipelago’s wine‑making companies adds value to local products and promotes economic diversification. In this sense, enotourism enriches the islands’ tourism offering, proving that the region’s appeal goes far beyond its beaches.

Cabrera defended the “Enoturismo Islas Canarias” brand as a strategic element within the sector’s value chain. He also referred to the agreement reached between the cluster and the public agency Gestión del Medio Rural (GMR), which enables direct sales of winery products through the digital platform Volcanic Experience, allowing buyers to place orders from outside the archipelago.

Nevertheless, the parliamentarian stressed the need to reinforce GMR’s presence on the non‑capital islands, such as Fuerteventura, where—according to him—there are still shortages of staff and initiatives to promote the marketing of zero‑kilometre local products.

He also warned about the extra costs that non‑capital islands face when importing agricultural inputs (e.g., sulphur, gypsum) and packaging materials (cardboard, glass) from Gran Canaria and Tenerife, which increase production costs and the final price of wines.

Cabrera praised the work of the Asociación Los Majuelos, which brings together more than a hundred members, including over 20 viticulturists, all committed to reviving vine cultivation on Fuerteventura. He highlighted the “La Majorera” variety, an endemic island grape with enological potential, for which efforts are underway to obtain its own protected designation of origin.

He reminded listeners that Fuerteventura was the first island in the archipelago to develop wine production, with historical records dating from 1402‑1412. In his view, viticulture is recovering and gaining recognition in competitions where Majorera wines with a designation of origin have already taken part.