The harvest has started with a total of 1,893 hectares registered in this Protected Geographical Indication, 10% more than in the 2023 campaign
The 2024 harvest is already underway and the wineries that are part of the Vi de la Terra Mallorca PGI have already received 900,000 kilos of grapes, which represents 20% of the grapes estimated to be harvested during this campaign. This was explained by the president of Vi de la Terra Mallorca, Magdalena Mesquida, at a meeting held this Wednesday at the Microceller Son Crespí in Santa Maria del Camí, where she was accompanied by Pere Crespí, owner of the estate and the winery.
So far, the main grape varieties entering the wineries registered in the PGI are the earliest ones: Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Moscatell, as well as grapes of the local varieties Malvasia and Giró Ros, in white varieties. And Pinot Noir and Merlot, in black varieties.
Fewer but high quality grapes
This year the grapes are in a very good state of health and also of great quality, which suggests a good vintage of wines. The harvest was also marked by a significant drought in the previous months, which resulted in smaller and more concentrated grapes at the aromatic and phenological levels. This lack of water has also resulted in a smaller quantity of grapes: a reduction in production of approximately 20% compared to previous seasons is expected.
“This lower production is not a negative element for the sector” explained the president of Vi de la Terra Mallorca, Magdalena Mesquida ”because it alleviates the situation of the wineries that still have wine from other seasons in stock. We expect a good vintage thanks to the quality of the grapes. We are growing in number of wineries, in hectares registered in our PGI and this shows that there is a lot of interest in the wine made here. We have more than 300 growers and, apparently, the price per kilo of grapes will remain around the euro as in other seasons, although in recent years many new vineyards have been activated and, if before there was a lack of grapes, now there is much more supply. The challenge is that our wines have more and more presence in the market and become a valid consumption option for people of all ages who know how to appreciate the identity and uniqueness of the wines made in Mallorca”.
After the storms
The meeting also discussed the effects of the last rains of August, which will have to be assessed in the coming weeks.
“In general the vineyards have received the rains in a very positive way, with the exception of vineyards located mainly in the area of Manacor, which have suffered flooding and will have to be more controlled at a sanitary level” explained the manager of Vi de la Terra Mallorca, Marina Vera: ”the vineyards, like the rest of the crops, have suffered an extraordinary state of drought and this rain is a support to extend the ripening of the grapes and, therefore, provide higher quality. However, we must be cautious because we have to carry out a major sanitary control to control the appearance of fungi that can damage the harvest. This is the greatest concern at the moment. The harvest is a delicate time, in which our winegrowers and wineries must make important decisions in order to harvest the grapes in the best sanitary state and with the highest quality, taking into account the weather variability and the effects of climate change, already present in the vineyards”.
Vi de la Terra Mallorca has started this harvest with a total of 1,893 hectares registered, which represents 10% more than the harvest of 2023. The PGI currently brings together eighty wineries in Mallorca, with more than 300 winegrowers. As a quality brand, all the wines of the wineries affiliated to Vi de la Terra Mallorca are made exclusively with grapes from the island, which gives them uniqueness and a very important link with the territory.
For more information and photographs: comunicacio@vtmallorca.com / 650 402 527
