Although Mallorca remains the largest wine-producing island in the Balearic archipelago in terms of vineyard area and number of producers, the other islands also have vineyards.
In recent months, some noteworthy developments have taken place. Rioja-based Vintae has become a shareholder in Bodega Terramoll in Formentera and is set to assume management of the project. Meanwhile, after a long career at Abadía Retuerta, Álvaro Pérez Navazo has joined Ibiza's family-owned Can Rich on a full-time basis, bringing fresh impetus to the business.
As in Mallorca, and under mounting pressure from climate change, there is a growing shift away from international varieties towards local grapes that are better adapted to drought and the increasingly extreme conditions affecting viticulture. During this transition, however, the judicious use of international varieties also deserves recognition, as illustrated by the rosé from Menorca featured this week.
The wine comes from Torralbenc, a 70-hectare estate with 17 hectares under vine, located in Alaior, just two kilometres from the sea. Owned by the Urtasun family, who are also behind Remírez de Ganuza in Rioja, the Menorca project operates independently and includes a boutique hotel with a restaurant. The estate has been producing wine since the 2016 harvest.
Torralbenc Vell, meaning “the old whitish tower”, stands on marés soil, a marine limestone formed from fossilised corals and shells. Its hardness required specific machinery to break through the crust and allow the vineyard to be planted.
This rosé is a blend of Syrah, Monastrell and Merlot. Each variety is fermented and aged separately in stainless steel tanks for three months before blending. The cooler conditions of 2024, together with improved water availability, resulted in balanced ripening, further enhanced by the mild September temperatures.
The result is a Mediterranean-style rosé with generous, ripe fruit , yet not heavy. It is pleasant on the palate, lifted with saline notes and a chalky finish that lend the wine its character. There is a degree of depth, but the moderate alcohol keeps the wine fluid. Using international varieties for rosé production proves a smart strategy: it favours moderate ripening and minimal skin contact, which softens their varietal imprint and allows the character of the soil to come through.
12.5% abv.
€20
10,000 bottles
Score: 90
Ingredients according to QR code: grapes, preservatives (E224, sulphites)
Author
Amaya Cervera
A wine journalist with almost 30 years' experience, she is the founder of the award-winning Spanish Wine Lover website. In 2023, she won the National Gastronomy Award for Gastronomic Communication
