Raised between Switzerland and Galicia, wine expert Christian Arias launches the project 'Entre Nosotros', to give visibility to the small wineries of Lanzarote with tastings, visits and presence in fairs and also to make the island's wine more affordable for the local population.
In an interview with the radio program Más de Uno Gourmet of Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, Arias explains his career and all the services he offers for the promotion of wine.
- What is it like to be Swiss-Galician?
I was born in Galicia, but my parents were working in Switzerland, where I arrived as a newborn and stayed there for the first ten years of my life until my parents returned to Galicia.
In Galicia I did the next eight years of school until I came of age and said, I'm going back to Switzerland. And there I went to study and work until I decided to change scenery again.
And you landed in Lanzarote...
Yes, because of the wines. I always liked it. In a very extensive course I took on tasting, sommelier and viticulture, I toured almost all of Europe in different wineries.
I landed here and I liked it very much, I mean, seeing this was incredible and six years later I said, I'm going to send some resumes to see what falls.
I started first in the Stratus winery helping the waiters and doing guided tours..... but I wanted to be in the field and making wines, so I kept sending resumes until the vacancy in the La Geria winery as a technician. They called me and I spent two vintages working. An incredible experience.
- We have seen you at many fairs, but where you blew us away was at the Gastronomic Week in Barcelona...
I ran out of wine super fast, it's true. (Laughter). I really liked the work at fairs, giving presentations, working with Saborea, the direct contact with the client, explaining all their questions...
- What is the 'Entre nosotros' project about?
The project was born to make Lanzarote wine more visible. At events there is always the same wine, so to speak. There are always the big wineries that everyone knows.
On the other hand, smaller wineries are always a little more secluded, they are not in supermarkets, they are not in all the restaurants...
So I proposed to organize visits, tastings and marketing of wine for smaller wineries such as Erupción or Olivina and they thought it was great.
- What was the next step?
I created the logo, the website, I became self-employed and started in March.
- What is your target audience?
The people I want to reach the most are the local people. It is sad to hear that Lanzarote wine is not for the people of Lanzarote and that is heard a lot in the street.
In restaurants, wine is everywhere, but in almost none you can find it by the glass, and the bottle costs you a fortune because the restaurant inflates it by 300%.
The idea is that people can access these wines in a more economical way and that everyone can try it.
- Are you going to do tastings in restaurants?
My idea is to start doing tastings in different places in Lanzarote that are interested, such as with the restaurant 'Ocho Burgers' in Arrecife, where we will do tastings by reservation on Saturdays.
- How can I book?
Through instagram and on the website.
- Are you planning to do personalized tastings at home as well?
Yes, I would like to do them. In fact, I recently bought a tent, refrigerator and stand so I am prepared, even for weddings.
