Before about two weeks ago I’d never been to Mallorca. I’ve never really been into all that Magaluf crap, and I’ve never committed a crime serious enough for me to have to “retire” out to Marbella. So why would I have been? So when an invite turned up from the wife’s cousin for her wedding in Palma, I was a bit skeptical!
The flight out didn’t help. 5.30 in the morning that bugger was! Left the flat at 2am, after having not slept. Easyjet’ed it out, surrounded by stag and hen parties nailing warm Stella on the flight, and then being met with a Carling theme pub at the airport promising great lager and all day breakfasts. Is it me? Am I being a snob?
But then it all turned around. We Airbnb’ed a flat in the centre of Palma’s old town, and it’s really lovely round there. Ok all the menus are in English or German, but at least it was Mallorcan fish, cheeses, and meats on offer. They also had plenty of Mallorcan wine to go!
Mallorcan wine is having a resurrection thanks to the tourist coin coming in. The olive trees and almond groves are making space for vineyards, and this seriously hot Mediterranean island is having a good go. Slight snag for me is their choice of grapes. They’re tourist crowd pleasers. So many of the whites were Sauvignon Blanc, which lacked any real refreshing character or subtlety. The reds were Merlot, which were just a bit too jammy and sticky. It’s just too damn hot for them!
My hope is that with the change in fashion in places like Catalunya and Ribiero del Duero on the mainland, that hot weather grapes like Garnacha and Carignan will became household names. Then the Mallorcans can have the confidence to plant them. Then I’ll be back with bells on to see how they got on!
It really did change my view of Mallorca. The food was fabulous and the weather was stunning. The setting for the wedding was great, the cousin and her beau looked pure class, and I hope they had a thoroughly top time of it!
Cheers
Mike
Now that sounds like fun!
Leslie
Was great, so much better than I’d hoped for!
I would love to go to Mallorca! I have been to Marbella and Malaga and yes I’d like to retire in Mijas! Costa del Sol is fantastic. Glad you enjoyed!
Sun, sea, and superb food and drink, love Spain in general!
I went to Mallorca when I was a teenager with high school Spanish Club. Beautiful and very exciting to see the Mediterranean Sea.
that’s a lot better than the trips my school clubs went on!
aww..i am glad you changed your view on Mallorca. I thought it was more like Magaluf too but it is more to that. You have to go into the mainland to try the local wines. They have some really great vineyards around and the local grapes like Mantonegro blended with different grapes has such complexity and character it is lovely to drink. A much more impressive wine is the Son Prim which produces a white Merlot. Unusual, but oh so good.
Ah I definitely think we’ll be heading back, loved it, and got very lucky with the airbnb place too!