If you think Pollensa really has it all, it will come as no surprise to learn that the town plays host to the islands biggest wine fair, this year to be held on the 6th and 7th of May in the wonderful old cloisters of Santo Domingo.
It all started back in 1996, when a few friends who loved wine making started meeting regularly to share advice, experiences and of course a glass or two of their own wines. They probably never thought that they would end up organising what is now, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular fairs in Mallorca, attended by more than 3000 people tasting and buying wine.
Wine production on the island has dramatically increased during the past few years, seeing the recuperation of an industry that many people thought had gone forever. Long before tourists discovered the beaches and sunshine to be had on Mallorca, one of the main industries here was that of wine production, but the vineyards were lost to the phylloxera virus at the beginning of the 20th Century and instead of replanting vines, other agricultural produce were grown.
The wine growing association commented, “It is thanks to the desire to recuperate our heritage, that we were able to revive our winegrowing culture”. This year at the fair, they will be proudly presenting numerous wines from Mallorcan vineyards, many of which have won national and international awards, and which both the professional sector and the general public can taste and buy. The new dawn of wine production in Mallorca continues. Ancient wineries managed by a new, younger generation of wine producers work combining tradition with new and innovative methods and are turning over more fincas each year to this new found industry. “Each year we always have a new vineyard or two represented at the fair and that is really exciting.”
Because of Mallorca’s unique microclimate and the way in which the weather affects the varying terrain in different ways, from costal areas to high mountain terraces and the flat land across the plains, a wide variety of grapes can be grown here, producing a broad spectrum of fine wines, each with its unique character and flavour. The recuperation of the wine industry is not solely due to the fruits produced from heart of the land but also from the heart of the Majorcan people through hard work and their dedication to preserving their heritage.
Just to remind you the Pollensa Wine Fair will be held on the 6th and 7th of May at the beautiful Cloisters of the Santo Domingo Convent; the taxi rank is conveniently located just around the corner, in case you plan to take your sampling seriously! There is a modest entry fee opening doors to a great wine tasting event, a chance to exchange opinions and try the fruits of the Majorcan earth. If you think that life is too short to drink bad wine, this is definitely the place to be! Salut and Chin Chin!