Four wines, four cheeses, Atlantic views.

In Tenerife, Bodegas Monje is a compact, family-run stop where you pair a guided look at the cellar with tastings designed around local Canarian producers. I like the fact that you get a real guided session in English (with small-group energy, not a factory feel), and the pairing format helps you learn faster than just sipping.

I also love the patio and terrace setting, especially when the light hits the coast, Teide, and vineyard rows. One possible drawback is that this tour can feel more focused on the tasting room than on walking through vineyards, so if you want long outdoor vine time, set your expectations.

Key things I’d plan around

• Small group (max 10): easier questions, less waiting, more chance to actually talk with the guide.
• Four wine styles: a young white plus three reds, including one barrel-aged red.
• Four cheese pairings: goat cheeses plus one plate that includes both goat and sheep milk cheeses.
• Saturday and Sunday English times are fixed: 11am or 5pm, with a tasting-first swap at 4pm.
• Views are part of the experience: terrace tastings can come with coastal and Teide scenery.
• It is mostly indoors: you should expect the winery portion inside the facility rather than full vineyard trekking.

Bodegas Monje in El Sauzal: what you’re really buying for $42

For $42.24 per person, you are not just paying for four glasses. You’re paying for a guided structure that teaches you what you’re tasting, then pairs it with Canarian cheese that matches the style of each wine. That matters in Tenerife, because the island is all about local grape traditions and small producers, and a guided format keeps it from becoming random.

The location is also a big part of the value. Bodegas Monje sits in El Sauzal, and the setting is the kind where you look up from your glass and actually notice Tenerife. The views show up at the tasting stage, and that alone makes the tour feel like more than a timed snack and a stamp on your ticket.

I’d flag one practical consideration: there’s no hotel pickup or drop-off. The venue is remote enough that you may need a taxi or bus to get there. If you’re coming from a cruise port, plan on spending extra on transport.

The 90-minute flow: how the tour stays organized

The experience runs about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the activity is scheduled in a pre-set time slot. It starts and ends at the same meeting point at Bodegas Monje, C. Cruz de Leandro, 36, 38360 El Sauzal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. You keep it simple, which I like.

Here’s the typical flow:

• You begin at the winery, meet the guide, and settle in for the guided visit.
• Then you do the tasting portion with four wines, each paired with a specific cheese.
• At the end, the group returns to the meeting area since the tour ends back where it started.

Two timing notes you should take seriously:

• On Saturday and Sunday, the English tours are at 11am and 5pm.
• If you book a 4pm slot on those days, the order flips, with the tasting first and then the tour at 5pm.

That order change can matter if you’re photo-focused. If you want the cellar tour first, pick the slots that match your priorities. Also note that the activity may run a bit earlier or later around the set time, so give yourself a small buffer if you’ve booked other plans right after.

Stop 1: the winery visit and the four-part tasting format

The core of this experience happens at Bodegas Monje, and the best part is how the tasting is built in four chunks. Instead of one long sip session, you get a defined sequence that makes it easier to remember what you liked and why.

The tasting covers four home-produced wines:

• Dragoblanco, a young white
• Hollera, a red produced using carbonic maceration
• MonjeTradicional, a young red
• Listán Negro, a red aged in the barrel

Each pour comes with a paired cheese, and this is where the tour earns its keep. The pairing helps you notice differences between the wines, especially the shift from fresh and young styles into deeper red profiles. It also keeps you from feeling like you’re just drinking to be polite.

English availability is a plus. The tour is offered in English, and there are examples of guides delivering the session smoothly, including Irine, Sonya, and Claudia mentioned in customer feedback. If you’re counting on English, this small-group setup is one of the reasons the overall rating stays strong.

The wine and cheese pairings, one by one

This tour gives you a clear pairing logic, and it’s specific to the Canary Islands. Here are the exact matches you can expect, in the same order as the tasting:

1) Dragoblanco (young white wine)

Paired with a fresh white goats cheese from Tenerife.

This is the palate-opener. It’s the kind of pairing that keeps the tasting from becoming heavy too quickly.

2) Hollera (red wine made with carbonic maceration)

Paired with smoked goats cheese from La Palma.

Smoke and red fruit-style winemaking can feel like a mismatch for some tastes, but the pairing gives you a chance to see how the tour thinks. If you like smoky flavors, this is often the most memorable step.

3) MonjeTradicional (young red wine)

Paired with a semi-cured peppery goats cheese from Fuerteventura.

Peppery cheese can add bite and spice to the tasting, so it’s a good middle course. It also breaks up the flavors so you don’t get stuck in one profile for too long.

4) Listán Negro (red, aged in the barrel)

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

This is the more structured finale. If you prefer reds with more body, this last pairing is your closer.

If you’re wondering whether you’ll like all four wines, keep it realistic: people respond differently to dryness and sweetness. The good news is that the tasting format gives you variety, so even if one wine doesn’t sing for your palate, another one likely will.

What the winery tour covers, and what it might not

After the meeting, you get a guided look at how the winery works. The facility includes spaces where wine is produced, stored, and then served for tastings. In feedback, people have highlighted the cellar area and the way the equipment and barrels are explained during the tour.

One important expectation-set: the winery portion can be mostly inside the building, not a long outdoor walk through vines. If your dream is a full vineyard trek, you might find this tour more practical and cellar-focused than countryside-wander-focused.

There’s also a chance of a more event-style feel during parts of the experience. One piece of feedback criticized an adult-themed promotional video, saying it made some people uncomfortable. I can’t say every group will see the same thing, but if that would bother you, it’s worth asking ahead of time what media is shown during the visit.

Finally, the pace is short. The tour is only around 90 minutes total, so you’re not expected to linger for deep technical explanations on one topic. That can be perfect for busy schedules, but if you want a long, slow, nerdy wine seminar, you may crave more time.

Views, weather, and what to wear

Even though this is a tasting and tour, Tenerife weather can affect your comfort. The tasting can include time outside on a patio or terrace, and people have described spectacular views, including the coastline, volcanic mountain views, and the general vineyard scenery.

Because of that, dress like you’re going to be standing outside for part of the experience:

• wear comfortable footwear
• bring a comfortable coat if it’s cooler when you go

One practical note from the field: on some days, parts of the experience can happen in rooms that feel busy or loud, especially if people are shopping in the same space. If you’re sensitive to noise, you’ll probably feel more comfortable on a day and time when the tour can favor terrace or calmer corners.

Who should book this tour, and who should skip it

This is a great fit for couples and small groups who want a quick but satisfying Tenerife winery stop with a strong view factor. It works well if you like structure, because the four-step tasting format is easy to follow.

You’ll probably enjoy it if you:

• want small-group attention and a friendly English-speaking guide
• like pairing flavors, not just sipping
• enjoy local cheese alongside regional wines
• appreciate a place that blends scenery with a guided explanation

You might want to reconsider if you:

• want a long outdoor vineyard walk (this isn’t set up like a full hiking tour)
• expect an extremely informal hangout with tons of unstructured conversation
• feel uncomfortable with adult-themed promotional material and might prefer to avoid it

Also, it’s an adults-only experience, age 18 and over.

Price and logistics: is $42.24 a fair deal?

Let’s look at the value in plain terms. You pay $42.24 per person, and that price includes:

• a professional guide
• wine tasting
• food tasting and snacks
• alcoholic beverages as specified by the tasting
• a 7% IGIC tax
• admission ticket included

For many wine tours in this area, the cost is usually tied to transportation and tasting format. Here, the big win is that you’re getting four distinct wines with four specific cheese pairings. You’re also getting the guide component, which turns the tasting from guessing into learning.

So the deal is fair if you go with the right mindset: this is a guided tasting experience, not a full-day wine holiday. The cost may feel less justified if you only wanted a couple of sips and a quick look around, because the guided explanation is part of what you’re paying for.

The main logistics cost is on you: there’s no hotel pickup. Also, the tour is a short ride away from some areas, but it can mean taxi expenses if you’re traveling from farther or from a cruise port. Plan transport first, then lock in the time slot.

Should you book Bodegas Monje?

If you love the idea of a small-group winery tour plus a structured four wine and cheese tasting, this is worth booking. The pairing setup is specific, the setting can be scenic, and the tour is designed to keep you moving and tasting in a way that’s easy to remember.

Book it if:

• you want an English-friendly experience in a group of 10 or fewer
• you’re excited about Canarian wine and cheese pairings
• you value the view and the short, efficient format

Skip or ask extra questions if:

• you want a long outdoor vineyard walk
• you’d rather avoid any adult-themed video content during the visit
• you need hotel pickup, because you’ll have to arrange your own ride to El Sauzal

If you’re flexible on timing, pick a slot that matches your energy level. And if you’re going on the weekend, double-check the English times, since Saturday and Sunday don’t follow the same “anytime” logic. That one detail can save you headaches.

FAQ

How long is the Tenerife Bodegas Monje winery tour with wine and cheese tasting?

The activity is estimated at about 1 hour 30 minutes, and it’s described as a 90-minute experience.

What’s included in the price?

The tour includes a professional guide, wine tasting, food tasting, snacks, alcoholic beverages (as part of the tasting), and admission. The price also includes 7% IGIC tax.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet at Bodegas Monje, C. Cruz de Leandro, 36, 38360 El Sauzal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English. On Saturday and Sunday, English tours are at 11am and 5pm.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes, a vegetarian option is available. You should advise this when booking.

How old do you need to be to join?

This activity is available to those aged 18 years or over.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.