The jury of the University of La Laguna's 2026 Wine and Gastronomy Tourism Awards agreed on March 25th to grant the awards in its four categories to the company TURITOP, SL, the Rural Environment Management of the Canary Islands (GMR Canarias), the Agaete City Council, and researcher Francisco Javier González Díaz. The Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García Rodríguez, personally informed the award winners of the decision, highlighting their contribution to the promotion, enhancement, and dissemination of local resources in the fields of viticulture, wine tourism, and gastronomy.
These awards aim to recognize initiatives, both individual and collective, that stand out for their originality, impact, and best practices, contributing to the sustainable development of the primary and tourism sectors in the Canary Islands. The awards ceremony will be held on April 19th in the municipality of Valverde, on the island of El Hierro, as part of the 11th International Meeting on Agro-Wine Tourism in the Canary Islands, promoted by the Chair of Agro-Tourism and Wine Tourism of the Canary Islands Institute of Agri-Food Quality and the University of La Laguna.
In the business category, the jury recognized TURITOP, SL for its ability to transform the food and wine tourism sector through innovative technological solutions focused on digitalization. Its online booking system, specializing in experiences, has automated key processes such as reservation and payment management, facilitating the professionalization of the sector and the scalability of its offerings. As technology developers, they have designed a tool that helps make local experiences accessible to a wider audience, while simultaneously generating skilled employment related to digital product development and strengthening the economic impact on the region.
For its part, Gestión del Medio Rural de Canarias (GMR Canarias) has been recognized for its comprehensive approach to promoting the archipelago's agri-food products. The jury valued its ability to position Canarian wine and cuisine as strategic elements of territorial identity, integrating cultural, human, and landscape factors. Its model eliminates traditional logistical barriers and establishes sustainable marketing channels, fostering visitor loyalty and consolidating the Canary Islands as a leading food and wine tourism destination.
The Agaete Town Council has been awarded for its more than two decades of work promoting its coffee-growing cultural landscape. The jury highlighted the consolidation of a public-private partnership model that integrates the primary sector with a sustainable and high-quality tourism offering. Initiatives such as the farms open to visitors, the "Women's Coffee" project, and the promotion of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Café de Agaete have helped position the municipality as a unique enclave, internationally recognized for its coffee production, the only one of its kind in Europe.
Finally, the 2026 Rafael Armas Benítez Award was given to Francisco Javier González Díaz in recognition of his nearly four decades of dedication to the modernization and preservation of the Canary Islands' agricultural sector. An Agricultural Engineer from the University of La Laguna, he has led and participated in key research, development, and innovation projects in viticulture. His work as former president of the Regulatory Council of the Valle de Güímar Protected Designation of Origin Wines, as well as his participation in international initiatives such as the VITIS project, have been fundamental to the conservation of viticultural genetic heritage in the Canary Islands and other territories of Macaronesia.
With these awards, the University of La Laguna reaffirms its commitment to promoting initiatives that strengthen territorial identity, foster sustainability, and generate economic and social value in the archipelago.
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