THESE otherworldly hollows make up an improbable vineyard, nestled within a volcanic crater on Lanzarote, the easternmost of the Canary Islands.
An archipelago 100 kilometres to the west of Morocco, the Canary Islands have produced wine for more than 500 years 鈥� 鈥渕arvellous searching wine鈥�, as Shakespeare noted in his play Henry IV.
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But vineyards on Lanzarote date from the mid-18th century, following six years of volcanic eruptions that blanketed the island in black ash.
Farmers on the arid island began to hollow out pits in the volcanic ash to access the richer and wetter soil below, creating a landscape reminiscent of the moon鈥檚 craters.
This image of the strange hollows was captured by US photographer George Steinmetz. A specialist in aerial photography, Steinmetz documents the realities of large-scale food production and its ecological impacts.
White Malvas铆a Volc谩nica grapevines, which predominate on Lanzarote, are planted in the pits. Circular or semicircular stone walls known as zocos protect each pit from winds that blow year-round on the island.
Lanzarote produces an estimated 2 million kilograms of harvested grapes per year. The harvest is a family affair, with meals often served on the back of a pickup truck.
Photographer
George Steinmetz
