Borja Perez Artífice Vidueños Blanco | 2021

We don’t feature many wines from the Canary Islands at the shop; mostly because it’s hard to find one that nails that sweet spot between freshness and a little “lite” funk. When I tasted this white from Borja Pérez, I was very impressed. Borja started Artífice to spotlight the growers of Ycoden-Daute-Isora, the D.O. on Tenerife’s northwestern edge. A unique blend of Listán Blanco, Albillo Criollo, Marmajuelo, Gual, and Forastera Gomera, each variety is fermented separately, then blended and aged in a combination of 500L and 3,000L neutral oak. At just 11.5% alcohol, it’s light but races in high-speed with sweet cracklings, corn husk, and charred vegetables. Exotic yet friendly, this is the kind of Canary Islands white that tastes as wild as the place it comes from and leaves you wondering, How the heck do I pronounce: Ycoden-Daute-Isora? ~Allegra Angelo