Illes Balears (Vino de la Tierra) facts for kids
| Wine region | |
Illes Balears VdlT in the region of the Balearic Islands
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| Type | Vino de la Tierra |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
Illes Balears is a special name for wines made in the Balearic Islands, Spain. These wines are called Vino de la Tierra, which means "wine from the land." It's a way of saying these wines have a special quality because of where they come from.
The Balearic Islands are a group of islands, and this special wine area covers all of them. Today, there are about 300 hectares (that's like 740 acres) of vineyards where grapes are grown. Around 37 wineries, called bodegas, make wine here. This special status for Illes Balears wines started in 2003.
A Look Back in Time
People have been growing grapes and making wine in the Balearic Islands for a very long time! The Romans were the first to bring vineyards here. Even way back in the 1st century BC, a famous writer named Pliny the Elder said that wines from the Balearic Islands were as good as the best wines from Italy.
Later, when Arabs ruled the islands, grape growing continued. They even used clever irrigation systems to help the vines grow. There's a story that an Arab leader offered King James I excellent grapes when the king took over the island in 1229.
In the 1300s, even the king and the church had their own wineries! By the 1400s and 1500s, growing grapes was a very important job for many people in the town of Inca and nearby areas.
The 1700s were a good time for wine production. But in the early 1800s, things got tough. There were economic problems and a tiny bug called an aphid caused a lot of damage to the grapevines.
What Grapes Grow Here?
Many different types of grapes are grown in the Illes Balears region. These grapes give the wines their unique flavors.
- White Grapes:
* Moll * Chardonnay * Giró blanc * Macabeo * Malvasía * Moscatel de Alejandria * Moscatel de Grano Menudo * Parellada * Riesling * Sauvignon blanc
- Red Grapes:
* Callet * Manto negro * Fogoneu * Monastrell * Cabernet Sauvignon * Merlot * Syrah * Tempranillo * Pinot noir
See also
In Spanish: Illes Balears (vino) para niños
