The best way to understand how hard is to make homemade cheese, you have to put the gloves on and press the rennet. Something so simple as pressing cheese it can turn in bad pain in your wrist and back.
Cheese maker pressing rennet
As you are not trained as our wonderful cheese makers, you are going to feel pain after a few minutes pressing. These amazing cheese makers have been helping their families since they are kids. Cheese making have been in their families since they can remember and it goes back to four generation and some cases even more.
Joana is using knees and hands to press two cheeses at the time. She’s making cheese since she was 8 years old
Gran Canaria has 80 different artisans cheese maker and a lot of international recognition. Last November 2018 Gran Canaria sent 21 different cheeses samples to participate at the World Cheese Awards and won 15 medals. We didn’t need anyone to let us know we have the best cheeses but it’s good to be appreciate and promoted
We know our cheeses and that is why Canary Islands population are the largest cheeses consumer in Spain and we have the largest goat cheese production in our country too. It’s no joke we have the best cheeses…
So again, if you are looking for things to do in Gran Canaria while visiting, come with the sun for a few hours and get lost in our amazing country side and gastronomy. Don’t you dare to leave Gran Canaria without tasting it a bit before. Buen provecho.
Making homemade cheese
And remember, by visiting local productions and business, you are collaborating to diversify mass tourism located in touristic areas towards local areas and you are also helping our local economy. Among others you are being responsible with the impact of your visit. Thank you! Sustainable tourism is an option.
After a few years learning about wine making, I’m certainly sure winemakers are crazy. More I learn, stronger I believe it. If you would briefly know how much effort is involved in your bottle of wine, we would all make a ceremony before we open them. Do not take me wrong, I’m fascinated by winemakers. What I like most about this craziness Is that It’s absolutely bonded with romanticism. All related to winemaking is love. They talk about the vines, the grapes, their vineyards and even the bottles with pure feelings, as they were all human beings, as they were alive… Well, they are!
It is already winter and this is the time pruning takes place. Pruning is the most important in winemaking. Why? Simple, they are preparing their babies for next harvest. Each variety, every territory or climate are some of the things they have in mind when making their vines a new cut. Yes, as they were at the hairdresser. Do not think they just cut and go? NO NO NO! Each variety is different and they have different necessities, as all of us. We should know which haircut fits us better, right?
When cutting a brunch they are making a stronger, wealthier, healthier and richer quality future vine among others. As a summary a better wine.
In the Canary Islands at some regions, the weather is warmer and that confuse our vines. In response the plants start growing and they don’t “fall asleep”, as the winemakers refer to the autumn season. You see? the vines fall asleep, isn’t that romantic? And that is also why winemakers wait until winter to prune it.
During autumn the vines “fall asleep”, that means the salvia goes back to the trunk and routes. So the brunches are getting ready to be cut and they won’t suffer or lose energy. That is why in our archipelago our vines “cry” more. Again, they say their vines cry when the brunches tear salvia, RO.MAN.TIC!
Once I watched in a wine documentary, a winemaker who said, that he had been involved in wine making for 50 years, and he knew he would die not knowing all about it. And that got under my skin! And after six years of my amazing wine tours I understand what he meant and also their romanticism. I also hope they are as romantic in their life as they are in the field!!
So I hope to keep entertaining you all with all these stories about the Canary Islands wine and make you as addicted to them as I am. So do not forget to be conscious when opening and drinking your wine and please, keep drinking local wine wherever you are! And as soon as you land in Gran Canaria and start your searching in things to do in Gran Canaria while visiting, do not hesitate to visit our local wineries and try some wine tour, wine tasting and get the best of your local experience.
Long live to such a craziness.
Salud amigos!
And remember, by visiting local productions and business, you are collaborating to diversify mass tourism located in touristic areas towards local areas and you are also helping our local economy. Among others you are being responsible with the impact of your visit. Thank you!
