The Canary Islands wine sector is facing a historic and potentially devastating challenge. For the first time, the vine pest phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) has been detected in the archipelago, specifically in the Tacoronte-Acentejo region of Tenerife.
The discovery was announced on Friday by the Canary Islands Chair of Agrotourism and Wine Tourism, an institution linked to the Canary Islands Institute of Agri-Food Quality and the University of La Laguna.
Phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots and leaves, is infamous for causing the 19th-century European vineyard crisis—a disaster that destroyed vast areas of vineyards over three decades. While modern viticulture has largely adapted to its presence, regions previously untouched, like the Canary Islands, have long relied on their isolation as a natural shield. That protective barrier has now been breached.
Swift Action from Authorities
Following the detection of several outbreaks in Tacoronte-Acentejo, the Government of the Canary Islands and the Tenerife Island Council have activated a joint containment protocol. Measures include:
- Immediate removal and destruction of affected vines and roots
- Disinfection of contaminated soil and equipment
- Establishment of a surveillance perimeter around the outbreak site
- Intensive monitoring of both commercial and non-commercial vineyards in the surrounding area
- Industry-wide information campaigns, including meetings with winegrowers and technicians
A technical guide with photos and detailed descriptions of phylloxera symptoms has also been released by the regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty. The document aims to help farmers identify early signs of infestation.
A Threat to 500 Years of Wine Heritage
Tenerife boasts 3,200 hectares of vineyards, many planted with native varieties that have evolved over centuries without exposure to phylloxera. The island has six Protected Designations of Origin—Abona, La Orotava Valley, Güímar Valley, Tacoronte-Acentejo, Ycoden Daute Isora, and Canary Islands—which together produce over 70% of the archipelago’s wine and sustain nearly a hundred wineries.
The pest poses a dual threat: to economic livelihoods and to the island’s unique biodiversity. Once phylloxera becomes established, complete eradication is impossible. The only sustainable solution is to graft local grape varieties onto resistant American rootstocks, a costly and labor-intensive process that would alter the landscape and require years of transition.
Wine Tourism at Risk
Beyond production, Tenerife’s wine industry underpins a thriving wine tourism sector. Visitors from around the world come to tour its terraced vineyards, sample rare grape varieties, and enjoy wines rooted in volcanic soils. Any significant loss in vineyard area would inevitably impact tourism revenue and rural employment.
Call for Vigilance
Experts are urging farmers to intensify crop inspections and report any suspicious leaf or root changes to local agricultural offices or regulatory councils. Quick reporting is seen as critical to containing the pest’s spread.
As the Canary Islands confront phylloxera for the first time, the stakes are high: protecting a centuries-old wine tradition, preserving rural economies, and safeguarding a landscape that is both culturally and ecologically irreplaceable.
Source: Vinetur