Mallorca Wine, The Island´s Best Kept Secret
Mallorcan wine used to be the island’s best-kept secret. Until recent years the wine produced on Mallorca was not exported so could only be found (and drunk) on the island, with the odd bottle going through the airport after being discovered on a holiday. Now the wines of Mallorca are reaching a wider consumer base as they are starting to be recognized for their quality all over the world.
“Keep calm and pour on.”
The main wine-growing region is in the central plain or the “pla” of the island and in particular around the towns of Binissalem and Santa Maria. Some very nice and even some distinguished reds are produced in this region using grapes from the local Manto Negro and Moll varieties. The red wines have a high alcohol content and strong personality, and they are full-bodied, well-balanced, and suitable for aging. The white wines are exceptional, delicate, and fruity.
When the red wines (which make up 75% of all wine originating from the island) are produced the Manto Negro variety must make up at least half the grape component. This may then be complemented with other authorized varieties, although there is a maximum limit of 30% for Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot grapes. This is how the stamp of Mallorca will always remain in the wine.
“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.”
Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
In the case of the whites, the Moll grape variety dominates, giving fruity aromas, mainly of green apples and nuts, but also with hints of apricot and bitter almonds. In the mouth, they are fresh wines with a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity and a slightly bitter finish.
With the reds, the different types of grapes used to lead to the production of highly interesting wines characterized by their intensity of color and complex fruity aromas. In the mouth, mild tannins are evident together with a balanced level of acidity, both contributing towards a sensation of freshness.
The wine-making industry of Mallorca has existed for centuries, since well before the Roman conquest, and it has had a chequered past suffering plague and scarcity but now it is making a conquest of its own as it seduces drinkers all over the world with its charms.
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