Guía Winery
Discover how an old oil and vinegar store now functions as a meeting point and promotes products from across the north of the island of Gran Canaria.
Santa María de Guía
Santa María de Guía is a town on the island of Gran Canaria, between the port of Agaete and the capital. The cobbled streets of the old town (declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument in 1982) show off the beauty of its buildings, and call to mind its former splendor, when it was the most important commercial hub in the north of the island.
La Bodega de Guía (The Winery)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
Until the 20th century, there was only one access route into the town of Santa María de Guía; the building known as La Bodega, built in 1911 and launched as a store in 1936, welcomed visitors to the island.
Bodega de GuíaCámaras de Comercio de Canarias
In its early stages, and for almost a century, the so-called Bodega de Santiaguito (Santiago's pantry) was a famous oil and vinegar store, and a social and cultural meeting point for the locals.
Santiago Gil Romero (2001)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
Its privileged position meant that it became an obligatory stop for tourists from all over the world, as well as famous personalities from the world of arts and politics. They visited the old town of Guía, attracted by the cheeses produced in the north of Gran Canaria, including the renowned Flor de Guía cheese.
La Bodega de Guía (The Winery)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
In 2007, the flagship pantry closed its doors. They did not reopen until 2019, when the local authority purchased and refurbished the building, converting it into the Tourist Information Center of La Bodega.
The space was redesigned as a tourist office while maintaining its original character. It included a store to promote and sell—but also offer tastings of—the region's gastronomic produce.
Yohana, Bodega de GuíaCámaras de Comercio de Canarias
Behind the counter is Yohana, who, while working in the pantry, also helps out in the family business, Cortijo de Pavón, one of the largest artisan cheeseries in the north of Gran Canaria.
Omayra, Bodega de Guía (2021)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
In the tourist office, Omayra is in charge of welcoming visitors and offering them information on the local area.
Local products in La Bodega de GuíaCámaras de Comercio de Canarias
"The pantry sells products made locally in Gran Canaria, from wine to sweets, preserves, honeys, and cakes. But the most celebrated product is their cheese, especially the D.O.P. Flor de Guía cheese. They also sell locally made handicrafts.”
Flor de Guía cheese
Flor de Guía cheese is the gastronomic product par excellence of Santa María de Guía. It is a cheese made from unpasteurized sheep's and cow's milk, curdled using thistle flower. It is made by hand and produced seasonally, respecting the livestock breeding cycles.
Flor de Guía cheeseCámaras de Comercio de Canarias
Why is Flor de Guía cheese so unique?
“The production of this cheese has a historical element; this method of cheese making, using vegetarian rennet, arrived in the Canaries with the colonizers from Extremadura and Portugal. It is closely related to Extremaduran cheeses such as Torta del Casar or La Serena.”
Yohana, Cortijo de PavónCámaras de Comercio de Canarias
The cheeseries are small, family businesses that still make cheese using traditional techniques. “Shepherds still practise seasonal movement of livestock, benefiting from the routes used by ancient Canary Islanders to make the most of the pastureland according to the season.”
La Bodega de Guía (The Winery)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
A regional meeting point
Throughout its existence, the pantry has been a meeting point for the inhabitants of the region, and so its citizens have a particular sentimental attachment to it.
Local products in La Bodega de GuíaCámaras de Comercio de Canarias
Today, the pantry is frequented by both national and foreign tourists, but mostly Germans, who visit the town in search of the renowned cheese. But the pantry has also become a focal point for the local population, where they can buy products handmade in the region.
La Bodega de Guía (The Winery)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
It seems that in recent years there has been a growing appreciation of the value of handmade products, and an increasing appetite for zero-kilometer products. Omayra explains that this demand has had the backing of the local authority, who have supported local produce for years. The La Bodega project is a perfect example of this.
La Bodega de Guía (The Winery) (2021)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
“We also schedule activities, special days, events, and tastings for the general public, tourists, and locals."
La Bodega de Guía (The Winery)Cámaras de Comercio de Canarias
In recent years there has been a growing appreciation of the value of handmade products, and an increasing appetite for zero-kilometer products. This demand, which has developed naturally, has had the backing of public institutions, who have supported local produce for years. The La Bodega project is a perfect example of this.
