Mallorca's wine from the D.O. Pla i Llevant

Protected designation of origin

There aretwo protected designations of origin for quality wines in Mallorca. The Denominación de Origen (D.O.) Binissalem was the first. But the winegrowers in the central plain and the east of the island did not want to be left behind - and founded number two in 1999: the D.O. Pla i Llevant.

Viticulture on almost 500 hectares

13 wineries and 77 smaller winegrowers belong to the D.O. Pla i Llevant. According to official data from the winegrowers' association, they currently grow wine on a total of 497 hectares . That's quite a lot of grapes. Theannual production in 2022 was a good 1 million liters.

2,000 years of winemaking tradition

The vineyards - the name says it all - are located either in the plain in the central part of the island (Es Pla) and in the eastern part of Mallorca (Llevant). The area of the D.O. extends over a total of 19 island municipalities. Some of these are areas with a great wine tradition, as the Romans already cultivated vines there. This is documented.

Fertile soils & lots of sun

The Romans conquered Mallorca in 123 BC and ruled it for almost 600 years. They did not want to do without a good, local drop of wine. They chose the growing region carefully. After all, the soil in the Pla, for example, is considered to be very fertile, with around 2,800 hours of sunshine per year. Which is why other plants also thrive there. This is why Es Pla is also known as the granary of Mallorca.

From Algaida to Muro

The D.O. Pla i Llevant includes Bodegas Bordoy and Vi Rei in the municipality of Llucmajor, the Es Gallicant winery in Campos, Can Majoral in Algaida, Es Fangar and Armero i Adrover in Felanitx, Toni Gelabert, Miquel Gelabert and Pere Seda in Manacor, Can Coleto and Miquel Oliver in Petra, Butxet in Muro and Ca's Beato in Capdepera. They not only grow local vines , but also use international varieties.

It's all in the mix

If you want to see the D.O. seal of quality with the radiantly rising sun on your bottle, you must also adhere to the regulations in this association. Only certain grape varieties are permitted for cultivation.

White grape varieties

For the white grape varieties, these are

• Prensal Blanc
• Giró Ros
• Parellada
• Chardonnay
• Macabeo
• Moscatel de grano menudo
• Moscatel de Alejandría
• Viognier
• Riesling

Red grape varieties

The following red grape varieties are permitted:

• Callet
• Mantonegro
• Gorgollassa
• Fogoneu
• Monastrell
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Syrah
• Tempranillo
• Pinot Noir

Around 30 percent indigenous grape varieties

Around a third of the approved varieties are autochthonous, i.e. indigenous grape varieties, such as Prensal Blanc and Giró Ros or Callet and Mantonegro .

Maximum harvest quantities for good quality

The number of vines per hectare is also fixed: It is between 2,500 and 5,000 plants. The yield per hectare is also fixed. It varies depending on the grape variety. For white grape varieties such as Prensal Blanc or Parellada, for example, 11,000 kilos can be harvested per hectare, but only 7,000 kilos for Riesling and Chardonnay. For red grapes, 10,000 kilos per hectare are permitted, albeit with exceptions. This is because only 5,000 kilos of Gorgollossa grapes are allowed.

What do the wines of Pla i Llevant taste like?

It's best to let the winemakers themselves have their say: "The white wines made from Chardonnay grapes are characterized by very pronounced aromas of tropical fruits as well as lactic notes and nuances of vanilla when fermentation has taken place in wooden barrels. The dry Muscat wines offer floral aromas, while the fresh wines from the Prensal Blanc, Macabeo and Parellada varieties have fruity aromas with a pleasant acidity structure . Cuvées made from these grape varieties produce complex wines with fresh notes. In the case of red wines, the different grape varieties make it possible to produce very interesting wines that are characterized by their intense color and complex fruit aromas. On the palate, the tannins are soft with a balanced acidity that gives a pleasant feeling of freshness. The minimum alcohol content for white and rosé wines is 10.5% by volume, and 11% by volume for red and sparkling wines."

In terms of production volume, the white wines and the Tintos are roughly equal at around 40% each, plus the rosé and sparkling wines.