Palma de Mallorca, 10th Aug 05

MALLORCA LAUNCHES FOOD & WINE ROUTES FOR 2005/6

Mallorca is now actively promoting local produce to visitors

The Balearic Ministry of Agriculture has launched a new series of food and wine routes around Mallorca in four languages, including English. These routes, which have become very popular with visitors since their introduction three years ago, now feature 40 local family firms producing wine, cheese, local sausage (sobrasada), organic products including almonds, fruit & vegetables, jams etc…

The new brochure combines a detailed map with full information on all the producers involved in the scheme. The five routes featured provide an excellent way to discover the island and sample the best of Mallorca’s traditional food products. The routes focus on:

Wine - split into four routes including the two main wine producing regions of Mallorca; D.O. Binissalem, D.O. Pla I Llevant and Vins de la Terra including wines identified by geographical location.

The D.O. (Denominación de Origen) guarantees the origin of the wine and its quality. In D.O. Binissalem (taking in the villages of Santa Maria, Santa Eugenia, Consell, Binissalem and Sencelles) red, rosé, white and sparkling wines are produced, and the majority of the grapes used include Manto Negro and Moll. In the D.O. Pla I Llevant (including the villages of Algaida, Porreres, Felantix, Petra and Manacor). The white wines are made from Moscatel, Chardonnay and Moll grapes and the reds are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Callet, Merlot and Syrah grapes.

Vins de la Terra (or the regional wines category) include red, rosé and white wines from the Serra de Tramuntana – Costa Nord region, and other local wines taking in four bodegas in Andratx, Alaro, Inca and Pollenca.

Olive Oil – is produced all over the island, but one of the main centres is Soller where extra virgin oil is made with the Mallorquina, Arbequina and Picual olive varieties to give it a highly distinctive taste.

Sobrassada – a traditional cold meat product (resembles a cross between sausage and paté) made from selected pork, which is minced and seasoned with red pepper, salt and spices. Five producers are featured in Soller, Maria de la Salut, Porreres, Felanitx and Arta.

Organic Produce – featuring seven producers at Capdepera, Llucmajor, Algaida, Santa Maria, Consell, Manacor and Soller offering nuts, jams, fruit and vegetables, wines, and pre-cooked organic foods.

Cheese – four producers at Llucmajor, Porreres and Campos are included featuring uncooked, pressed cheeses, made from cow/sheep or goat’s milk.

Production of cheese, sausage (sobrasada), wine, almonds, may be limited on Mallorca compared to the Spanish mainland, but these products have their own distinctive Mallorcan character. Furthermore, many of the family firms involved in their production are retaining traditional methods which have been in use for centuries.

Information is given in English on their website: www.illesbalearsqualitat.com

For further information, please contact:
Mallorca Tourist Board, Dominique Carroll / Anna Skidmore,
Tel:(+34) 971 725 396 Fax: (+34) 971 713 540
E-Mail: info@fomentmallorca.org

Further Press Releases:

GOOD NEWS FOR MALLORCA IN 2012 (09th Feb 12)

THREE KINGS - THE FESTIVITIES CONTINUE! (05th Jan 12)

FESTIVE SWEETS CAN BE HEAVENLY (05th Jan 12)