The island in a glass of wine

Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, these international grape varieties thrive in many countries. But Prensal Blanc, Mantonegro, Callet, Gorgollassa or Giró negre - these are Mallorca's special wines. Real local heroes, so to speak. With these traditional, ancestral varieties, the island's winemakers canset themselves apart from the rest of the world in terms of wine - and bring the taste of Mallorca into the glass. Good droplets with Mallorca note, so to speak.

Over 2000 years of viticulture in Mallorca

Wine has been grown on the largest Balearic island for over 2000 years. Even the Romans cultivatedvines on Mallorca. With success and with quality. Pliny the Elder stated that the Balearic wines could be compared with the best of Italy. TheRomanscholar of the 1st century AD knew what he was talking about. For he was considered a great connoisseur not only of the region, but also of viticulture. He was also the one who gave the first written testimony about wine production in Mallorca.

Phylloxera plague on the island

Mallorcan viticulture has experienced ups and downs over time. Thus, at the end of the 19th century, the voracious phylloxera also reached Mallorcan climes, destroying island vines on a large scale and bringing production to a halt. Many native grape varieties were lost. But some plants grew in remote areas and were spared from the pest: they survived. In some cases, to this day! In recent years alone, Balearic authorities approved the commercial cultivation of a number of endemic, rediscovered varieties. In addition to Giró negre, these include Escursac, Callet negrella, l'Esperó de Gall and Mancès de tibús.

A taste for regional wines

How exciting it must be to track down such vines and finally know after the detailed genetic analysis : Here we have an autochthonous species! If this is then propagated and cultivated - freed from genetic defects and pathogens - it expands the portfolio of regional wines. And it is these that wine lovers and tourists enjoy so much.

Organic Bodega in Algaida

Very intensively with the search for native grape varieties Andreu Oliver of the organic winery Majoral in Algaida, among others, has made. For example, he grows the old, red grape variety Giró negre in his bodega. This has only been officially permitted at all since the fall of 2022, namely when the Balearic Ministry of Agriculture approved its cultivation and commercialization throughout the archipelago. Now it is often a long way between discovery, approval and commercial cultivation of Mallorcan original varieties, which can take years.

Adapted to the Mallorca climate

The Giró negre variety, for example, was found near Felanitx and Manacor in 2005. The green light for its cultivation came from the authorities only 17 years later. Winegrower Andreu Oliver appreciates the Giró negre very much. "This grape variety is well adapted to the Mallorca climate, it presents, among other things, cherry notes as well as nuances of exotic fruits," he tells.

Old variety, great taste

The variety was already appreciated by the locals in earlier centuries. As early as around 1630, it was mentioned in writing on Mallorca, pointing out that it thrived in Banyalbufar on the west coast. And also the Austrian Archduke Ludwig Salvator (1847-1915) described Giró negre in his classic "The Balearic Islands in words and pictures".

New Mallorca Cuvées

Today, this red variety is again in the glasses. And creates the opportunity to create new Mallorca cuvées with it. Looking back sometimes opens up new perspectives - and completely new taste experiences.