A wine pairing with a view beats any store shelf. I like how this 90-minute stop at Bodegas Monje mixes a real winery walk with a structured tasting. You’ll sample four home-produced wines and learn what makes each one different, from carbonic maceration reds to barrel-aged Listán Negro.

What I especially liked is the small group size (max 10), which keeps the guide’s explanations from feeling rushed or generic. I also like that you’re not just tasting one wine and moving on: the cheeses are paired to match each pour.

One thing to keep in mind: the experience is short, and at least part of the “tour” is inside the winery spaces rather than a long hike through the vineyards. If you’re hoping for lots of outside wandering, ask what’s included for your time slot before you go.

Key highlights at a glance

• Four wine pours matched with four Canarian cheeses, with clear explanations of what you’re tasting
• English-speaking guides on set days, plus Spanish support during the winery visit
• Family-run feel, with a calm pace and lots of time for questions in a group of 10
• Terrace and cellar views toward the Atlantic and Teide on a day when the weather cooperates
• Vegetarian option available if you flag it when booking

Getting To Bodegas Monje in El Sauzal: Views and a Real Sense of Place

Bodegas Monje is based in El Sauzal, on Tenerife’s north side, in that in-between zone where you’re close to the action but still feel the island’s quieter rhythm. The setting comes through the moment you arrive: you’re at a winery on sloping ground with wide sightlines toward the sea, and often you can see Teide in the distance.

If you’re coming from Tenerife’s busier areas, plan for travel time. Some people find it’s a longer trip from ports and city hubs, so build in buffer time and don’t count on last-minute scheduling.

Dress like you’ll be outside briefly. The guidance is comfortable footwear (you’ll be walking around winery areas) and a comfortable coat, and that matters on cooler or cloudier days when the terrace can feel chilly.

The 90-Minute Program: How the Tasting and Tour Flow

This isn’t a full-day excursion. Think of it as a focused 1 hour 30 minutes, built around one guided session and a tasting flight.

The experience is designed around a simple rhythm:

• First, you get a guided winery visit
• Then you taste four wines, each paired with a Canarian cheese

On some weekends, the timing is split differently for English. Saturday and Sunday English tours are set for 11am and 5pm, and if you book the 4pm slot, the tasting happens first and the winery tour follows at 5pm. So if you’re timing this around lunch or a bus ride, double-check the exact order for your day.

In practice, the short format is a plus if you want a quality wine experience without losing half your day. It can feel a bit compressed if you’re the type who loves very slow, room-by-room wandering, but the upside is you get to the tasting quickly and you can still ask questions.

Entering the Bodega: What You’ll Actually See Inside

The winery visit is part of what makes this tour feel like more than a tasting room. You’ll move through the production spaces and cellar areas, and the guide explains how the winery works in day-to-day terms.

One review note to file away: the tour can be mostly inside the building rather than a big outdoor vineyard walk. That’s not “bad,” but it changes the expectations. If your ideal winery visit is rows of vines, ask ahead how much (if any) vineyard viewing you’ll get during your slot.

That said, even when the tour stays inside, you still get a sense of atmosphere. Many people mention the view from the terrace as a highlight, and it’s the kind of place where the tasting feels timed perfectly rather than shoehorned into a shop corner.

The Four-Wine Flight and Cheese Pairings (The Part You’ll Remember)

The tasting is built around four home-produced wines, each paired with a specific Canarian cheese. This is where the experience earns its money: the pairing isn’t random, and the guide gives enough structure that you can actually taste the differences.

Here’s the flight, in the same order you’ll experience it:

1) Dragoblanco (young white wine)

Paired with fresh white goat cheese from Tenerife.

This is your reset glass: bright, lighter, and a good opener if you want the tasting to start clean rather than heavy.

2) Hollera (red made using carbonic maceration)

Paired with smoked goat cheese from La Palma.

This pairing is interesting because carbonic maceration reds often lean toward fruit-forward flavors, and the smoke brings a savory edge that makes the wine taste sharper and more defined.

3) MonjeTradicional (young red wine)

Paired with semi-cured peppery goat cheese from Fuerteventura.

This is where peppery cheese does real work. The bite in the cheese helps show the wine’s structure, and it keeps the flight from turning into a row of similar “red tastes.”

4) Listán Negro (red aged in the barrel)

Paired with cured goat and sheep milk cheese from Gran Canaria.

This is the deeper, more “serious” finish. Barrel aging tends to add body and a more developed flavor profile, and the blend of cured cheeses rounds out the last pour.

If you’re picky about sweetness levels, this matters too. Some people noted that most of the wines they tasted leaned dry, while others preferred the sweeter options. That’s your cue to tell the guide what you usually like in advance, so the explanations match your palate.

How the Guide Makes or Breaks the Experience

Wine and cheese can be “fine” anywhere. What turns it into a memorable hour-and-a-half is the guide’s pacing and how clearly they connect the stories to what’s in your glass.

The good news: English support is built in, and groups are small enough that questions land. Names that come up from past English sessions include Irine, Claudia, and Sonya, and each one is described as friendly and able to handle questions without turning the experience into a sales speech.

If you want to talk specifics (grape styles, why one wine pairs better than another, what carbonic maceration does), you’ll likely be able to. If you prefer a lighter, more casual vibe, you can still enjoy it, but I’d expect the guide to steer things back to the tasting sequence.

One small “consider this” note: a guest flagged that a suggestive wine-and-sex themed video was shown and made some people uncomfortable. That might not apply to every session, but if you’re sensitive to that kind of humor, ask the team what’s included before you sit down.

Price and Value: Why This Costs $42.24 and What You Get Back

At $42.24 per person, this isn’t a bargain tasting like you’d do at a casual bar. But it’s also not just four glasses and a shrug. You’re paying for a structured, guided experience with a small group, plus food and wine pairing.

Here’s what’s included in the tasting experience:

• A professional guide
• Four wine tastings
• Four cheese pairings
• Snacks
• Alcoholic beverages as part of the tasting
• A mobile ticket
• Admission ticket included (with tax included in the price)

That “tax included” detail matters less emotionally, but it does matter for budget planning since you won’t get surprised at the end.

Is it expensive compared to buying wine by the glass? Sure. But the value is in how the pairing is explained and how the winery visit ties it together. If you want to taste broadly, learn a bit, and leave with a satisfying story (not just a buzz), this price can make sense.

Best Fit: Who Should Book This (and Who Might Want Something Different)

You’ll probably be happy booking if:

• You like guided tastings where you can compare wine styles back-to-back
• You enjoy goat cheese and cured cheeses paired with local wines
• You want a short winery visit that won’t hijack your whole afternoon
• You appreciate small-group pacing (max 10)

You might want a different option if:

• You’re expecting a long outdoor vineyard tour with lots of walking among the vines
• You dislike any potentially awkward content before tastings (worth asking in advance)
• You’re looking for a big “wow” event like a festival or multi-stop tasting route

If you’re a couple, this is a solid choice because the small group size keeps it intimate without feeling private and weird. If you’re a solo traveler, you get the same benefit: less waiting for a bigger group to catch up, and more time to ask questions.

Should You Book Bodegas Monje Wine and Cheese?

I think this is worth booking if you want an easy, high-quality Tenerife wine experience that includes pairing and a real winery guide. The four-wine flight is clearly the heart of it, and the cheeses make the tasting feel purposeful rather than random.

Book it if you can handle a short format and you’re okay with the “tour” being mostly inside winery spaces. Book it sooner rather than later because it’s often snapped up ahead of time, and the English options on weekends have set start times.

If you want the best odds of a smooth visit, message about any dietary needs and consider bringing a coat even in warmer months. Then show up ready to taste carefully, ask questions, and enjoy the terrace view while the wines are in front of you.

FAQ

What does the Tenerife Bodegas Monje wine and cheese tasting include?

You get a professional guide, a guided winery tour, and a tasting of four wines paired with four Canarian cheeses. Snacks and alcoholic beverages as part of the tasting are included.

How long is the experience?

It runs about 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes estimated).

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English, and winery visits are given in Spanish & English.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers, which keeps it more personal.

What’s the wine and cheese lineup?

The flight includes Dragoblanco with fresh white goat cheese (Tenerife), Hollera with smoked goat cheese (La Palma), MonjeTradicional with semi-cured peppery goat cheese (Fuerteventura), and Listán Negro (barrel aged) with cured goat and sheep milk cheese (Gran Canaria).

Is there a vegetarian option?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you request it at the time of booking.

Can I get a refund if my plans change?

Yes, free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund; within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded.