Natural wines from Mallorca: Bodega Galmés i Ribot relies on wild yeast and traditional methods
Natural wine - in Spanish vino natural - has been growing in popularity for a number of years, and on Mallorca, too, the Bodega Galmés i Ribot to this traditional method of wine production. What makes natural wine so special is the absence of any additives: Neither sulphur nor industrial yeasts are added to the wine. Instead, the winegrowers rely on the wild yeastwhich occurs naturally during fermentation. In addition, the wine is not filtered - a process that is still carried out with egg white for many wines.
"Natural wine is a sensitive product, just like nature itself. That's why you have to treat wine and nature with special care," explains Cati Ribotwhich the family bodega has restructured in recent years. The twelve hectares of cultivated land have been completely organic cultivation and a new line of wines, Ve d'Aviorwas brought to life. The name of this line is a tribute to the past and roughly means "it comes from earlier times". Centuries ago, when there were neither trained oenologists nor chemical aids, wines were produced in this way - it was the standard at the time.
Organic viticulture in the traditional style
Although Cati Ribot is officially the third generation of the winegrowing family, her grandparents only grew Grapes which they sold to other bodegas. It was only her father who started making his own wine, thereby shaping the traditional style of the bodega. Even though Cati Ribot has converted the business to organic grapes, a small part of her father's original wine line remains - out of respect and love for his work. These wines are still produced in the old style but with organically grown grapes.
New grape varieties and traditional methods
The conversion to organic viticulture also affected the selection of the Grape varieties. Autochthonous grape varieties, i.e. only native to Mallorca, now grow on around 80 percent of the cultivated area. These include, among others Giro Ros, Malvasia, Muscatel, Premsal Blanc, Escursac, Fogoneu and Callet. In some cases, existing vines were re-grafted, for example Chardonnay was replaced by Giro Ros.
Despite the changeover, the bodega's overall production has hardly changed: Around 40,000 bottles are produced annually, with around 8,000 bottles going to the Galmés-i-Ribot line are no longer applicable. It is particularly pleasing that the Ve-d'Avior line has met with great international acceptance and is increasingly in demand both on the mainland and abroad. The lower alcohol content of 11 to 11.5 percent is also in line with the current trend of moving away from high-proof wines.
From harvesting to bottling - everything by hand
The grapes for the wines of Bodega Galmés i Ribot are of course harvested by hand. The harvest usually begins in August, as was the case this year with the Muscat, and lasts until the beginning of September. The Maceration and fermentation take place in tanks or containers, whereby the grapes are processed whole, i.e. with their skins. Absolute exclusion of air is crucial here to avoid oxidation.
Cati Ribot has discovered through its collaboration with experienced natural wine winemakers such as Joan Rubio Sadurni and Eloi C. Perelló that each grape variety has different storage requirements. Some ferment better in large ceramic vessels, others in Concrete eggs or Metal containers. After fermentation, the grapes are pressed and the wine is bottled directly from the tank - using a mobile bottling machine to move the delicate natural wine as little as possible.
Natural wines for every taste
The prices for the bodega's wines are quite affordable: between 7 and 10 Euro costs a bottle of the traditional Galmés-i-Ribot wines, while the natural wines of the Ve-d'Avior line between 16 and 18 Euro are available. Particularly noteworthy is the Ve-d'Avior rosé sparkling wine Bosquetwhich has established itself as a favorite among lovers of natural wines.
The bodega also offers guided tours, which take place on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm and by appointment. A visit is worthwhile not only to taste the wines, but also to learn more about traditional winemaking on Mallorca.
Vins Galmés i Ribot is located near Santa Margalida. To make an appointment call: 678-84 78 30 or e-mail: vines@galmesiribot
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