El Hierro, the westernmost and smallest of the Canary Islands, has a long winemaking tradition. Formerly, it produced predominantly sweet wines, but today these account for only a small part of total production.

Phylloxera never got a foothold in the Canary Island vineyards, so many of the older varieties, such as Verijadiego and Bremajuelo, still survive . These are planted ungrafted to preserve all their natural richness.

El Hierro DO is unique in Spain: when it won Denomination of Origin status in 1994 it was comprised of only two bodegas. One of these is a cooperative that has controlled 95% of the total production of the island since its establishment in 1986. The total number of bodegas had increased to 7 by 2003.

The DO encompasses some 200-odd hectares of vineyards that produce primarily white wine grapes, generally for consumption as young, fresh wines . The rosés and reds have similar characteristics and are sold only locally, and even then irregularly.