That scent is in the air again - the scent of grapes ripening in the sun and the promise of an exceptional wine year. The grape harvest has begun on Mallorca and the island's winegrowers are looking forward to the 2024 vintage with a satisfied smile. "Less is more," says Pere Crespí from Bodega Son Crespí in Santa Maria del Camí. He is alluding to the drought of recent months, which has resulted in smaller grapes, but promises all the more intense aromas - especially for the red wine.
Quality before quantity
The fact that there are fewer grapes doesn't bother anyone here. On the contrary, the winegrowers are relaxed about the 20 percent lower yield. "Many bodegas still have wine from previous years," explains Magdalena Mesquida, president of the association Vi de la Terra Mallorcaand she sees the smaller harvest more as an advantage. After all, the warehouses need to be emptied and the new wines can mature in peace. She is also certain: "This will be a good year for red wine."
The grapes are smaller, more concentrated, almost as if they had put all their energy into these few berries. And that, dear readers, means one thing: the taste is more intense. A little less yield - but more quality in the glass. We can already look forward to the 2024 vintage.
Challenges posed by climate change
But not everything is as relaxed as it seems. "Climate change is giving us a hard time," admits Mesquida. Heavy rainfall, which can pour hundreds of liters of water onto the vineyards in just a few hours, is a real danger. The solution? Ditches between the vines to drain the water away more quickly. It's that simple - or not.
Mallorca remains a wine island
Despite all the challenges, viticulture is growing on the island. The vineyards of Vi de la Terra Mallorca have grown by as much as ten percent this year, and 900 tons of grapes had already been harvested by mid-August - around a fifth of the expected harvest. The D.O. regions too Binissalem and Pla de Llevant have already started their grape harvest, and Antoni Bennàssar, president of the D.O. Binissalem, is delighted with the rain in August: "The soil desperately needed the water and we escaped the hail - a real stroke of luck!"
The 2024 vintage: a promise
In the end, it's the same as always: nature gives and the winegrowers take what they get. But one thing is certain: the 2024 vintage could be unforgettable for red wine lovers. Smaller grapes but big flavors - that's the secret of this year. A good reason to start looking forward to the next glass of Mallorcan red wine.
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