A Vision Born from Volcanic Ash
Founded in 2017 by Rayco Fernández, Puro Rofe is more than a winery—it's a tribute to the heroic viticulture of Lanzarote, a Canary Island defined by its extraordinary, lunar-like landscape. The name itself, Puro Rofe, is the local term for the black volcanic ash and lapilli that covers much of the island. Fernandez, a respected wine distributor, saw the urgent need to revitalize and capture the unique potential of this terroir. He partnered with local organic growers, including the legendary Ascensión Robaina, with a singular mission: to produce wines that are a pure, unadulterated expression of this volcanic, saline environment.
Heroic Viticulture: The Art of the 'Hoyo' and Organic Commitment
The vineyards of Puro Rofe are rooted in what seems like the edge of the world. They are located in areas like La Geria, a breathtaking landscape where vines are planted using unique, ancient techniques:
- The Hoyos (Pits): The most iconic method involves digging deep, conical pits (hoyos), sometimes up to two meters deep, through the meters of volcanic ash (rofe). A single vine, typically a centenarian, ungrafted vine, is planted at the bottom. This protects the plant from the fierce Saharan trade winds (the alisios) and, crucially, the deep ash traps the precious dew, allowing the vine roots to access moisture in an environment with almost no rainfall.
- The Abrigos (Walls): To add an extra layer of protection, crescent-shaped or semicircular stone walls (abrigos) are built around the most exposed hoyos, reinforcing the defense against the constant, desiccating wind.
- Organic Farming: The entire collaboration is founded on practicing organic agriculture. The work is painstaking and non-mechanizable—all tending, pruning, and harvesting is done by hand. This commitment results in minuscule yields but produces grapes with immense concentration and a powerful mineral character.
Indigenous Grapes and Authentic Expression
Puro Rofe champions the indigenous varieties that have adapted to this extreme environment over centuries. While they craft compelling reds from Listán Negro, the focus is often on the whites, primarily Malvasía Volcánica and Diego (Vijariego Blanco), along with Listán Blanco (Palomino). The Malvasía brings aromatic complexity and a deep mineral structure, while the Diego provides a crucial backbone of freshness and acidity. Their wines, like the flagship Rofe Blanco and single-plot treasures like Tinasoria, are distinctly salty, smoky, and mineral-rich—a direct taste of the volcanic land and the nearby Atlantic.
Winemaking with Integrity and Tradition
The winemaking philosophy is minimal intervention and deeply respectful of tradition. Grapes are hand-harvested, often crushed by foot in traditional stone lagars, and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts.
- Listán Negro (Red Wine): For their celebrated red, Rofe Tinto, the Listán Negro is typically de-stemmed (sometimes with a small portion of whole clusters) and undergoes a semi-carbonic or long, gentle maceration. It is then matured in a combination of neutral 500L French oak barrels and large clay amphorae (tinajas).
- White Wines (Malvasía, Diego): Whites are often direct-pressed and aged in stainless steel, neutral oak, or a combination, with the aim of preserving the volcanic minerality and crisp acidity. The wines are generally unfiltered and unfined, bottled to show a pure, honest expression of the vineyard site.
Why Puro Rofe Matters Today
Puro Rofe has rapidly established itself as the quality benchmark for Lanzarote, bringing international attention to its singular terroir and the heroic work of its organic growers. These are not merely well-made Spanish wines; they are a taste of place unlike any other on earth. By celebrating the ancient, labor-intensive traditions of the island and refusing to compromise on quality, Puro Rofe offers bottles that are profound, honest, and truly reflective of the pure ash from which they are born.
