Wednesday, 20 May 2015 09:46

Ever Tried Canary Islands Banana Wine?

Platé: Banana wine from the Canary Islands Platé: Banana wine from the Canary Islands

When we found Platé banana wine, we just had to try it. What could be more Canarian than wine made from bananas?

There's an urban legend that a German winemaker once spent years in Gran Canaria perfecting a technique for making champagne out of bananas. Everything went to plan until he put the bottles into the cellar to mature. There was so much sugar in the bananas, however, that the gas built up and all his bottles exploded. It was a messy end to a good idea.

Now the idea is back but without the bubbles.

Not banana liqueur

Platé uses bananas rather than grapes but is made exactly like a wine with yeast fermentation followed by filtering and bottling. A different world from the lurid and chemical banana liqueurs that still fester away on souvenir shop shelves. 

The makers of Platé banana wine have done as much as possible to dissociate their product from banana liqueur. So, instead of a bunch-of-bananas-shaped bottle and yellow food dye, you get a pale-yellow wine in an elegant bottle.

The taste

Platé tastes like a semi-sweet wine with a faint but natural flavour of banana. It's mild and perfectly drinkable; try it well-chilled as an aperitif, pair it with mild fish and salad dishes, or drink with dessert. 
 
Plate sells for around 8.50 euros per bottle in large souvenir shops and some supermarkets. 
 
You can order online via the website
Published in Wine

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Tip of the day

  • Tip Of The Day: Avoid Bank Card Charges By Paying In Euros
    Tip Of The Day: Avoid Bank Card Charges By Paying In Euros

    Save money and avoid rip-off bank charges while in Gran Canaria by paying in euros when using your credit or debit card.

    Many bars and restaurants in Gran Canaria, and in almost all European holiday destinations, give you the option of paying in euros or in your home currency. Opting for your own currency, while it may seem like the safer option, can add as much as 5% to the bill as it triggers dynamic currency conversion. 

    DCC basically means that the exchange rate is calculated at point of sale rather than by your bank. It allows you to see the total cost of the transaction in your own currency but adds up to 5% to the total because it uses a terrible exchange rate. 

    Since the extra money is shared between your bank and the merchant, some places will automatically bill you in your own currency and hope you don't notice. You have the legal right to refuse and void the transaction should this happen. 

    ATMs too

    The same applies when taking money out of ATM machines in Gran Canaria (and anywhere in Europe); Always choose the local currency option to avoid losing money to poor exchange rates.

    If you opt for the local currency option, using bank ATMs is often the cheapest and safest way of getting euros in Gran Canaria. It's far safer than having a big pile of euros hidden in your room or tucked into your shorts.

    More details in this Daily Telegraph article.

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