Supplied by:   james mallorca.uk 

Mallorca wines making history mirrors that of Catalonia wines with a thousand year history of wine production with high standards which peaked in the late 19th Century when phylloxera blighted the productions from France. Mallorca and Minorca, in true entrepreneurial spirit, planted many thousands of extra vines to export back to the troubled French! Mallorca a best place to buy your wines wine on offer with best buy cheap good quality red roco wines every year to be found in Mallorca

In the past however it was not long before Phylloxera also struck Mallorca with devastating effect. As a result, many growers on the mallorca island were reduced to abject poverty having no second crop on which to rely on for food or income. Many emigrated, with the majority going to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Algeria. Now wines are made here in Mallorca to the higest standards best quality reds roco and white balnco. 

Mallorca's wine making history mirrors that of Catalonia with a thousand year history of wine production which peaked in the late 19th Century when phylloxera blighted the productions from France. Mallorca and Minorca, in true entrepreneurial spirit, planted many thousands of extra vines to export back to the troubled French!

But despite the grateful arms of northern Europe the reputation and quality of Mallorcan wines continued to fall throughout the mid 20th Century and post civil war period, and it is only in recent times that Mallorca is catching up with international quality requirements.

The most important wine growing district of Mallorca is the "Comarca Binissalem", with its fertile areas at the edge of the east Tramuntanya mountains. This region contain five small towns or villages: Santa Maria del Cami, Consell, Binissalem, Sencelles and Santa Eugenia. Whilst at one time there were 30,000 hectares of vineyards, today there are barely 1000 hectares of planted here in Mallorca.

To promote and recognise quality two Denominacion de Origen have been created: Binissalem, in 1990, and Plà i Llevant, in 2001. Apart from these two well recognized regions, there are two “quality certified” regional wines: Serra de Tramuntana-Costa Nord and Vinos de la Tierra (sometimes called simply VdT). Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera also make regional wines. There is also at least one wine with an international reputation, and discreet labelling - Anima Negra from Felanitx.

A lesser known winerie is Miquel Oliver from the Plà i Llevant DO from which, despite the recognition of Anima Negra, many local experts insist comes Mallorca´s finest wine; the Miquel Oliver Aia 2003 a 100% Merlot.

One of the home grown experts, currently enthusing Mallorcan wines and educating the discerning palates at theYacht Club Cala d´Or, is Miguel Laudat.Having lived in Mallorca since birth, but of German parentage, Miguel decided to pursue his love of fine wines at the early age of fourteen. He insists that this is due to the influence of his parents, themselves originating from a well known wine region in Germany - Pfalz, and, as bar and restaurant owners themselves, having a deep knowledge and true appreciation of the worlds wines.

                               

In turn they were happy to pass on their knowledge and experience to educate their son in the finer vintages. Rapidly becoming intrigued by the history and diversity of wine, Miguel began to read and learn about wine well before beginning his professional studies at Escuela de Hoteleria de les Illes Balears in Palma, where he studied Hotel Management.Beginning work with his father at his bar, Miguel continued to study for a further four years, taking several wine courses. Later moving to work with the Golf Club at Val d´Or, in the South East of the island, he returned to manage his parents restaurant in Cala d´Or – installing new gastronomic kitchens and preparing the new restaurant.

In finishing his education Miguel decided to prepare his thesis on the regions of rioja and bordeaux, completing his studies in fine style.Receiving an immediate offer from the Barcelo Hotel Group Miguel became F& B manager for this highly regarded group, only to be headhunted one year later by the Yacht Club in Cala d´Or as maître d´ and sommelier.

Happy to talk to every guest about the world´s finest wines, recommending the best to accompany any given meal, Miguel is an enthusisastic lover of wines, instrumental in the hosting of many wine tasting evenings and presentations by local and international bodegas at the Yacht club such as Binigrau, Schug from California, Sumarroca from Catalonia and Miguel Oliver.

 fruits of mallorca

In 2007 Miguel enjoyed Hereus de Ribas, Cabrera, but especially for the festive season he recommends  Torrent Negra from Miquel Gelabert, priced around 25€, this provides a very special accompaniment to sopa de nadal or even turkey.Looking ahead to 2009 Miguel will be offering a very special wine from Can Feliu which won the gold medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles tasting competition, judged by an international expert jury panel, in May 2007 – Alé de Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.

So, Anima Negra aside, modern Mallorcan wine producers have followed similar routes, purchasing, inheriting and planting vineyards with the island´s indigenous and little known grapes: Callet and Manto Negro for the reds, and Moll otherwise known as Prensal Blanc for the whites. In their final form these are often combined with the internationally recognised Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay, and the everyday Spanish grapes Tempranillo, Monastrell, Moscadel and Macabeo.

While an impressive 60% of wine drunk on Mallorca hails from Mallorca (the restaurant menus are filled with them), only 5% of Mallorcan wine makes it out of Spain.

A little time invested in finding the best is well spent – certainly worth searching for is the Jaume Mesquida Negre 2004, from the Plà i Llevant DO and priced around €15, which blends Tempranilloo, Monastrell, Merlot, Callet and Manto Negro, for an impressively complex wine that the producers claim could age several years. Said to have “Vanilla on nose, some hefty cedar elements, very brooding black, pure licorice. Chocolate too. Not so much tannin but plenty of oak”.

Last, but most certainly not least, is the Macia Batle Crianza 2004. With a full bodied 14.5% alcohol the company´s website talks of “forest berries” and “balsamic mix” a serious wine from a tradition of winemakers dating back to 1853 which also blends well with Christmas and New year fayre.