Home >> About Majorca >> Wine of Mallorca and Spain
Today our article will be about the wine of Mallorca and Spain. Spain is world famous for the quality and variety of wines that are produced on its territory. As of 2018, there were 4,373 active wineries in the Kingdom of Spain. Mallorca alone has more than 70 local wineries and the quality of their wines is improving year after year.
First, let’s understand what types of wine exist. We will talk about quiet wines without gas. Knowing this classification and their characteristics is important to understand which dish goes best with each wine, and each person will be able to determine which wine suits his taste.
Classification of wine by color
This is the most common classification among consumers.
- White wine. Its color can be very pale, yellow, golden and even greenish. It is made from white grapes as well as from red grapes (in which case only the juice without the skin is used).
- Red wine. Its color can be purple, ruby, pale red. Red wines are made from red or blue grapes. When the skin comes into contact with the grape juice, tannin is formed and the wine becomes red.
- Rose wine. It is made from red grapes, but the contact with the skin is quite small, so it takes on a pink rather than red hue.
Тwine types by age (applicable to Spanish wines)
Wine is a living product, and like all living things, it has a life cycle, an optimal period of consumption. The age of a wine is measured by the vintage (year of harvest). All vintages are different, and the same vintage can have different characteristics depending on the many factors that affect the quality of the wine. The most basic factor is climate.
- Without crianza, a young wine that has not been aged (sin crianza). This wine is made from young grapes that have a longer maturation period and softer tannin. Such wines have more fruity and less astringent flavors, which are maximally revealed at a temperature of 12-14 degrees Celsius. It is bottled a few months after the beginning of fermentation. The maximum shelf life of such wines is from 3 to 5 years, but it is still recommended to consume such wine within the first year.
- Crianza. This is the aging or maturation of the wine. In this case, the aging process is 24 months for red wines (minimum 6 months in oak barrels, the rest of the time in bottles) and 18 months for white and rosé wines (6 months in oak barrels and 12 in bottles). Crianza is a favorite wine type among wine lovers. Such wines are served chilled to 14-16 degrees to maximize their flavor and aroma. These wines can be stored for up to 6 years after harvest.
- Reserva (reserva). Red wines are aged for a minimum of 36 months (12 months in oak barrels and 24 months in bottles), white and rosé wines for 24 months (6 months in oak barrels and 18 months in bottles). These wines are considered refined. They are dominated by the aroma of wood, and the fruity notes are felt somewhere far away. You could say that these are fall wines, not suitable for the heat. They can be stored for almost ten years without losing their properties. The ideal serving temperature for such wines is 16-18 degrees Celsius.
- Gran reserva. This is a gourmet wine made from grapes of exceptional quality. The minimum aging period is 60 months for red wines (minimum 18 months in barrels and the remainder in bottle), 48 months for white and rosé wines (minimum 6 months in barrels and the remainder in bottle). These wines are served delicately decanted and at a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius.
Types of wine according to sugar content
Here we’re talking about “still” wines without gas.
- Dry wines. In such wines, the amount of sugar does not exceed 4 grams per liter.
- Semi-dry wines. The sugar content in these wines ranges from 5 to 30 grams per liter, making them slightly sweeter on the palate.
- Semi-sweet wine. The amount of residual sugar in the wine is between 30 and 50 grams per liter.
- Sweet wines. They contain more than 50 grams of sugar per liter, in some cases they can contain up to 200 grams.
Viticulture in Mallorca
The craft of winemaking came to Mallorca in 123 with the arrival of the Romans. At that time Mallorca became one of the most important areas for wine production. In the nineteenth century, a small insect called phylloxera destroyed almost all of the island’s vineyards. In the twentieth century, Mallorca’s tourism began to grow and farmers began to grow grapes and make wine again. In Europe, Mallorca wine has a reputation for quality, is considered one of the best wines and has repeatedly won prizes at international wine competitions.
Mallorca has two regions that have been awarded the status of Denominacion de origen: Binissalem and Pla i Llevant. These are some of the oldest wineries in Mallorca, honoring the centuries-old traditions of their founders. Benissalem is located at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains. Its vines are protected from the winds and the Mediterranean climate of Mallorca contributes to a very high quality wine.
Many of the island’s bodegas offer tasting tours, where you can see the wine production process, appreciate the flavors and buy yourself a few bottles for a fun vacation. Not sure which Mallorca wine to choose? Personally, I prefer Son Prim Cabernet Sauvignon. Maybe you will, too.
Top 10 Spanish wines priced under 15 euros among the world’s best wines 2019
In May 2019, there was another International Wine Competition in Bordeaux, which is the most authoritative in the world. And Spain was recognized as a leader in wine quality. We present to you Spanish wines priced under 15 euros, which have been included in the Top Best Wines of the World version 2019 (their price +/- may vary from store to store).
- CAL Y CANTO ROBLE 2016. Vino de la Tierra de Castilla. Price: 2,65 €.
Criança produced 100% from the Tempranillo grape variety and aged in American oak barrels for 6 months. It is subjected to microfiltration before bottling. - NUMUN SELECCIÓN 2014. Denominación Jumilla. Price: 4,70 €. The best Monastrell, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the warm lands of Denia are harvested for this wine only at night by the light of the moon. The wine is matured in French oak barrels for 8 months and then bottled where all the flavors come together to form a bouquet.
- PROTOS VERDEJO 2018. Denominación Rueda Price: 6,80 €. A young white wine from the Protos bodega in the Rueda region. The berdejo grapes for this wine are harvested only at night, from young vines less than 25 years old, and the initial maceration process takes place at 10ºC, with further fermentation at 13.5ºC. Maturation lasts for 3 months.
- SOMMOS VARIETALES Tinto 2016. Denominación SomontanoЦена 7,85 €.
The Tempranillo, Merlot and Shiraz grapes are grown on north-facing terraces at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains along the Ebro River in Aragon. The grapes for this wine are harvested only at night, by machine, at their most optimal ripening times. Preliminary cold fermentative maceration for 72 hours, then fermentation at 24-26º, maturation in French oak barrels for 8 months. - PROTOS ROBLE 2017. Denominación Ribera del Duero Price: 8,35 €. This wine is made from Tempranillo grapes grown on vines over 25 years old. Hand harvested in 20 kg boxes and further hand selection according to classification tables. This ensures that only fully healthy, whole grapes enter the fermentation vats. Maceration for 15 days at 24ºC, maturation in American oak barrels for 6 months and 6 months in bottle.
- MANZANOS BLANCO Fermentado en Barrica 2016. Denominación Rioja DOCa Price: 9,85 €. This gold medal winning white wine from Rioja is produced in a winery that is the fruit of 5 generations of labor of the Fernandez de Manzanos family and whose winemaking tradition dates back to 1890.
The Manzanos Blanco Fermentado wine is made from grape varieties: 51% Viura (White Queen of Rioja) and 49% Chardonnay. By type of aging: crianza, which was matured for 9 months in barrels: 80% of the time in French oak and 20% of the time in American oak. And then gained body and melded flavors for another 6 months in bottle. - MUNIA CARACTER 2015. Denominación Toro Price 11,35 €. This is an Author’s wine, 100% from the Toro zone’s Tempranillo grapes, grown on vines 30-50 years old. A powerful, complex red wine from the banks of the Guareña River, which after 16 months of maturation in barrels has retained its freshness and spontaneity. A beautiful balance between elderberry aromas with spicy nuances of cinnamon and clove on one side and flavors of butter and coconut from the barrel wood.
- LA TRUCHA Blanco 2017. Denominación Rias Baixas Price: 12,50 €.
Albariño grapes are grown on the right slopes of the Minho River at an altitude of 200-350 meters above the ocean on vines 25-45 years old. The wine undergoes a cold fermentation process and is then infused with fine sediment for 3-6 months until fermentation is complete. - LAMBUENA Crianza 2015. Denominación Ribera del Duero Price: 12,70 €. Made from 90% Tinta de Pais (Tempranillo) and 10% Cabernet and Merlot, grown on 35-year-old vines with regulated yields of no more than 3500 kg per hectare. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 800-850 meters above sea level on calcareous clay soils covered with pebbles. The fermentation process takes place in tanks with a capacity of 15,000 liters, maturation in barrels made of American oak – 60% and from burnt French oak – 40% of the time for 15 months Then the wine is sent to large tanks for 2 months for decoration and equalization of aromas and at least 8 months of rest in bottles before going to the market.
- LOPEZ CRISTOBAL Tinto Crianza 2015. Denominación Ribera del Duero Price: 14,75 €. Despite its youth, Criança 2015 shows a very refined aroma. Aromas of aging initially appear in the foreground, but after decanting the wine reveals all its charms: elegant aromas of fresh black and red fruits and berries, spices, orange bark, orange blossom, balsamic, notes of smoked wood; complex and round set.
