Can Vidalet
We are delighted to welcome Ivan and Lara from the Wine Industry Mallorca as a new regular feature to Mallorca La Vida. We hope you enjoy their first article on Can Vidalet.
Spring marks the ideal time to explore the vineyards in Mallorca, as this is when the vines are in full bloom and become lush and green. During this season, curious butterflies flutter over the vines, and birds chirp overhead while searching for their next prey. The temperature is usually in the region of 20ºC - 28ºC, which makes it more comfortable for visitors to enjoy the vineyards and a tasting outdoors. Even though the crowds of tourists are steadily growing, it is still a manageable quantity.
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Can Vidalet, a small winery hidden away in the Pollença countryside, is an interesting winery to visit at this time of year and the spring weather allows for a wonderful tasting on their terrace with a view.
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A little bit of history
Can Vidalet was established in 1996. Despite its relative youth, the winery boasts a respectable number of harvests under its belt. It is situated in an ideal spot, overlooking the Tramuntana mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea, with the pretty town of Pollença in the distance. The winery is surrounded by olive tree plantations and pine trees, as well as some delightful-looking villas.
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Can Vidalet is currently undergoing a profound transformation, changing some of its grape varieties and replacing French and international grapes with indigenous varieties such as Callet, Gorgollassa, Prensal, and Giró Ros. During our visit, we saw a new vineyard that had been planted with Mallorcan Callet on a bush vine, which is unusual to see since many winemakers prefer easier-to-manage trellised vines.
The soils at Can Vidalet are also intriguing, as they vary throughout the vineyard's entire surface. You will find some clay, limestone soil, fossils, and peculiar stony plots with white calcareous rocks. This unique mix allows the winemaker to experiment with various combinations of grape varieties and types of soil. The vineyard surroundings are dotted with fascinating features from the past, such as the classic Mallorcan dry stone walls and an old well. There are also interesting botanicals that grow throughout the land such as lemon balm, wild fennel, and rosemary. These botanicals are nurtured so that they can be used in the creation of their spirits.
Can Vidalet is also equipped with modern installations and a stone cellar dug into the hill, containing the necessary vats, barrels, and bottle storage required, all kept at a consistent temperature.
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The tasting
As we sat outside to enjoy the view, the acceptable temperature, and a few refreshments, we began the task of tasting some of the wines produced at Can Vidalet, including the simple but pleasing Blanc de Blanc, the Ses Pedres oaky Chardonnay, various vintages of the Blanc de Negres (a white wine made with red grapes), and their So de Xiprer red. All the wines are of high quality and reflect the team's hard work. A special mention goes to their Barros de Cecili, a white wine made with Prensal Blanc, fermented with the skins and aged in a 1000L amphora, creating a very expressive and unconventional wine.
Can Vidalet also produces spirits, including a Gin called 'Onze,' which has up to 11 botanicals gathered from the land around the vineyard, and 'Marc,' a type of ‘Orujo’ (a less refined Spanish Grappa). Other unique products at Can Vidalet include their three different types of Port de Cecili, a range of fortified wines styled in the Portuguese way, including a dry white wine, a sweet white wine, and a sweet red wine.
Overall, our experience at Can Vidalet was enjoyable and relaxing, and we were treated incredibly well. After a long tasting and a lovely afternoon spent with the attentive staff, we left Can Vidalet with a few bottles of wine and some gin to enjoy at home.
If you want to explore the wine regions of Mallorca beyond the classic areas of Binissalem and its surroundings, a visit to Can Vidalet will be well worth your time. We are sure that it will open your eyes and taste buds to some lesser-known wines and spirits.
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Website: Can Vidalet
Written by Iván González Gaínza & Lara Corfield, Wine Industry Mallorca
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Photography © Can Vidalet
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Other articles by Iván & Lara:​
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