📍 Menorca
A windy island with small vineyards.
Menorca is the second-largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, a windy island with small vineyards. It is part of the Balearic Islands. The land is flat, soils are limestone and clay, and the strong northern tramontana wind makes growers keep vines low.
Viticulture here is small and scattered across individual estates. Both local and international grapes are grown, mostly red, plus white and rosé. Wines are sold as Vi de la Terra Illa de Menorca. In the 18th century the island changed hands to England several times, which left a mark on local traditions.
Menorcan wine is hardly exported: the main market is the island and its visitors. The island is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and farming tries to be careful.
Menorca is of interest to travellers who want to taste rare wines from small estates that are hard to find away from the island. Other Balearic islands, such as Mallorca, produce noticeably more wine. Menorca is also known for Mahón cheese, which goes well with the local red or rosé.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Menorca → → → 🍷 Still wine → kind of → 🍷 Types of wine → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📍 Balearic Islands
- Related to
- 🥃 Gin de Mahón, 🍷 Still wine
- Wines
- 🍷 Red wine, 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Rosé
Frequently asked questions
Where is Menorca?
In the Mediterranean, the second-largest island of the Balearic archipelago.
What wines are made on Menorca?
Red, white and rosé from local and international grapes, sold as Vi de la Terra Illa de Menorca.
Why are the vines low?
Because of the strong northern tramontana wind.
What to read next
- 🥃 Gin de Mahón — Gin de Mahón is an EU protected geographical indication for a juniper spirit from Menorca: a single distillation in copper stills heated over wood, 38–43% ABV, with no additives or flavourings.
- 🍷 Red wine — Wine from dark grapes that ferments with the skins and takes its colour from them.
- 🍷 Still wine — Wine without noticeable bubbles: EU category 1, at least 8.5–9 % actual alcohol and no more than 15 % total; red, white, rosé or orange.
- 🍷 White wine — Wine made from grape juice without the skins; it can come from pale and even dark berries.
Similar
📍 Mallorca · 📜 Formentera · 📜 Ibiza · 📍 Campo de Borja · 📍 Calatayud · 📜 Agenais
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- MAPA: Denominaciones de origen
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register