Feeling in the Pink
There’s nothing better than a perfectly chilled bottle of Mallorcan rosado with a paella lunch, or while enjoying those juicy red Soller prawns. Even simply popping the cork on a warm balmy summer night is one of the highlights of our Summer. There is something very lovely about drinking a bottle of exceptional wine that has travelled just a few kilometres, made by someone who you have met and can feel their heart and soul being poured into its creation.
Apparently I am slightly obsessed by our local wines (I am not alone in this!) and equally slightly defensive when it’s suggested that our small producers of rosados are no match for the mighty French. Surely Whispering Angel cannot be knocked from the top spot by a Mallorcan wine ? So with a simple ‘que’, a bucket of ice and some perfectly chilled bottles ready to go let’s give the traditional French wines a run for their money with our top picks from on our doorstep in Pollenca.
Flaires
Before we arrived permanently on this beautiful island we spent many holidays here and it was this rosado wine that first made us sit up and declare our love for Mallorcan wines. Many of the vineyards are in stunning locations but Mortitix is on another level with their vines hugging the sides of the Tramuntana mountains. A cooperative of Mallorcans who have been working together for many years are producing wonderful wines. Their pale, bright rosado features Monastrell, with hints of Syrah, Tempranillo and Cabernet grapes that generate notes of white flowers, pink grapefruit and peach. Even now we still get excited when we see Flaires on the wine list…it never fails to deliver.
Binimaimo
We first met Michiel and Juliette a couple of years ago when we went to their vineyard in the Campanet Valley. They were embarking on a massive project that was breathing life back into an old Posessio that was already surrounded by the new vines that they had planted and producing fabulous wines. On that summer afternoon, sipping their exquisite wine, listening to the passion for their project you knew that they were so invested in producing wine that would be rightly be part of the rejuvenation of Mallorcan wine production. Without doubt they have done that whilst adding something very special back into the history of the island.
Can Gelat
Willm and Hilly are wonderful people who have a glow of positivity and pride in what they are doing on the other side of the valley. Their ecological wines with indigenous grape varieties carefully hand picked are really making a big splash on the island and have a big following. Wine making is about a team who watch in anticipation when that cork is popped and the glass is swilled ready for the first sip. They of course want to see a smile develop on peoples faces as the senses are envoked. They really do not need to worry about our reaction, their Rose featuring the local Callet grape constantly puts a smile on our face, in fact most Sundays at the moment!
Can Axartell
What a bodega this is…architecturally it’s a real sit up and notice me place. Something that wouldn’t look out of place on a James Bond film set as it sits buried into the side of a hill in the stunning location on the Cami Vell de Campanet. That is just the front door to a well respected producer who consistently brings us excellent wines. Once seen it’s never forgotten with its stumpy bottle and unique labelling but what makes it really stand out is the quality of the organic wine using the wonderful local Callet and Manto Negto grape. We always have a few bottles chilled ready to go and thankfully Botiga Can Isa our wonderful local deli always has a few bottles when we run low.
Grau Gran
This is a little bit further a field and is produced in Alaro, another spectacular location right at the very heart of Serra de Tramuntana. This is one of those ‘discovered by accident’ wines. We were at a fabulous paella restaurant, Bananas in Son Paulo who sadly did not have our go to Flaires. Instead they said you must try this one…we had not heard of it and it wasn’t on the shelf of our local Agromart. It is a very elegant rosado featuring the local Gargollassa grape that has a delicious medley of citrus and fresg fruit aromas and is perfectly balanced with a long finish. Paellas have a lot going on with a combination of flavours but this is an exceptional wine that more than stands up to the job of partnering those seafood and fish flavours. We always grab a few boxes at the start of the summer, it sells out very fast.
These are by no means the only rosado wines that you will find in Mallorca and our friends over at the Wine Industry will have a few other suggestion. We wanted to give you a little glimpse into our corner of the island that when it comes to wine production is rich in equal measure of dedication and quality. I think it’s time for a blind tasting and see if indeed those French wines come out on top. I am not so sure these days and I think there just might even be a whisper of envy!
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