Titerok-Akaet: From Volcanic Roots to Contemporary Winemaking

A Name Rooted in History

When I choose a wine, the first thing that catches my eye is the label, closely followed by the name of the producer. A few years ago, on a warm summer evening while dining at a local restaurant, I was particularly intrigued by the unique name "Titerok-Akaet" on the wine list. After taking my first sip, the wine won me over as well; it was the Paraje 2021.

Later, during a meeting with the producers, I learned the origin of the name Titerok-Akaet. This name comes from an Aboriginal toponym used to refer to Lanzarote, meaning "red mountain, the one that burns." This highlights the island's volcanic characteristics.

The Origin

The project was born from Juan Daniel Ramírez and Marta Labanda’s ambition to recover and preserve old vineyards in the North of the island. 

In 2014, they acquired the Valle de Malpaso plot in the municipality of Haría, marking the beginning of their adventure. This plot is home to the five main grape varieties of Lanzarote: Malvasía volcánica, Listán blanco, Listán negro, Diego, and Moscatel. It has transformed to align with their sustainable practices, focusing on techniques that respect plant life and the environment while also adapting to changes, such as new pests and climate challenges.

Titerok Akaet project officially launched in 2017 with the release of its first wine, AKAET Valle de Malpaso 2017, made from grapes sourced from this plot.

Viticulture with a Purpose

The winery practices organic viticulture; this approach allows the wines to authentically reflect Lanzarote's unique terroir. 

Today, they manage over 40 hectares of unique organic vineyards, all with the same purpose: to continue rescuing plots that tell stories through their soils, varieties, and locations.

Winemaking Philosophy

In the winemaking process, minimal sulfites are applied during both fermentation and bottling. This approach results in more natural wines, promoting consumer health and enhancing overall enjoyment. 

The grapes undergo maceration with their skins, a technique that helps extract a greater complexity of aromas and naturally occurring antioxidants, thereby enriching both expression and depth in the final product.

A variety of materials are used during the aging process, each selected to impart unique characteristics to the wine, guaranteeing that no two wines are ever identical.

Additionally, bâtonnage, or stirring of the lees, is performed to preserve and enhance the wine, contributing to increased aromatic richness and overall balance in the glass.

Akaet Paraje: A Wine Shaped by Lanzarote’s Diverse Terroirs

This wine comes from vineyards spread across different parajes (plots) on the island of Lanzarote, a mosaic of landscapes that defines its identity and gives the wine its name. It is made from a blend of Malvasía Volcánica, Listán Blanco, Diego, and Listán Negro, varieties that reflect both the volcanic character and the viticultural heritage of the island.

The 2023 Paraje wine is the result of a careful selection of parcels located in Masdache, Barranco del Obispo, Timbalba, Juan Bello, Bilbao, Gaida, Las Quemadas, La Costa, and Montaña Blanca. This diversity of origins is key to its complexity, bringing together very different expressions of terroir within a single wine.

The vineyards themselves are remarkably heterogeneous. Some of the youngest vines are around 25 years old and sit at approximately 50 metres above sea level, while others are ancient, pre-phylloxera vines exceeding 120 years of age and reaching altitudes of up to 600 metres. This contrast between youth and heritage, lowland and altitude, adds depth and nuance to the final blend.

In the cellar, the process begins with a 24-hour cold pre-fermentative maceration after destemming and crushing, designed to gently extract aromas and structure. The must is then softly pressed and allowed to settle overnight at a low temperature before undergoing alcoholic fermentation.

The wine is aged for 11 months on its lees, combining concrete tanks, chestnut barrels, and oak barrels, with some batches also completing malolactic fermentation. This varied approach to ageing adds layers of texture, complexity, and balance, allowing each component to contribute something distinct to the final profile.

Akaet Paraje 2023 is available for purchase in our shop; quantities are limited, so don't miss out!

Thanks for reading,

Ale