Small vineyards want their wine to be known as Vino de Mallorca

SMALL vineyards are asking the Balearic Government to create a new Denominacion de Origen “Vino de Mallorca”.
A new association, made up of 27 wine producers, has been the first to put forward a written request to the Balearic Government for an official Denonimacion de Origen covering all the existing wines made on Majorca. They have asked the Balearic Government to bring together all the existing makes of wine in Majorca under one label, Vino de Mallorca, with the aim of cashing in on the international fame of the island's name. This will make it easier to market, they said. Chairman of the new association, Antoni Darder, said it incorporates 27 of the 44 producers of wine in the islands while the rest, the bigger ones, are members of another organisation. But the the proposal goes further and includes the creation of a quality control station which will ensure the standardisation of quality in Majorcan wine production. This station will make analyses and tests on the wine in order to improve the products. It will also have a presence in the Grape and Wine growing Commission, whose next meeting will be on December 19, after which an answer to the proposed plans is expected. This association, which was formed in Pimeco, has presented written proposals asking for the creation of the new Denominacion de Origen to the Balearic Ministry of Agriculture (October 23), the Balearic deputy leader (October 27) and the Balearic leader Jaume Matas, in a meeting with also took place on October 27. In addition to combining the present Denominaciones de Origen, such as D. O. Binissalem - Mallorca and D.O. Pla i Llevant-Mallorca, the intiative will also include the two makes which at the moment are produced under the title Vino de la Tierra. Other existing titles in Majorca are Serra de Tramuntana-Costa Nord and Illes Balears.