The Balearic Government incorporates new local grape varieties into the IGP Mallorca and adapts the DOP Pla i Llevant regulations to the effects of climate change

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, through the Directorate General for Agri-food Quality and Local Product, has approved an amendment to the specification of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Mallorca with the aim of adapting wine regulations to new climatic conditions, strengthening the territorial link of wines and advancing administrative simplification within the sector. These amendments, published in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB), introduce significant changes both to the technical requirements of protected wines and to the regulation of authorised grape varieties, following joint work with the sector and supported by scientific studies.

In the Pla i Llevant area, the amendment lowers the minimum total acidity value for still and sparkling wines to 3.5 grams per litre of tartaric acid. This adaptation responds to the sustained increase in temperatures during the grape ripening period, which over the past 30 years has led to a natural decrease in must acidity, according to a study by the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB).

In this regard, the Director General for Agri-food Quality and Local Product, Joan Llabrés, explained that “the new regulation makes it possible to reduce the need for artificial acidity corrections, which can cause stability problems and organoleptic alterations, without negatively affecting wine quality. Moreover, the measure is aligned with other quality schemes in climatically similar regions, such as certain designations of origin in Catalonia and the Valencian Community”.

At the same time, the Order introduces an administrative simplification measure that removes the obligation to renew annually the authorisations required to indicate the vintage and grape variety on wines without a PDO or PGI. “More than fifteen years of management experience have shown that this requirement is unnecessary and that the Administration has sufficient mechanisms to act in cases of improper labelling”, Llabrés noted.

Regarding IGP Mallorca, the new specification authorises the inclusion of the local varieties escursac, giró negre and esperó de gall as varieties suitable for winemaking. These are grape varieties with a documented presence on the island since the 19th century and a strong territorial connection, which in recent decades have undergone a process of recovery driven by the sector.

“Wines made from these varieties have demonstrated high quality, with recognition from the specialised press and high scores in prestigious wine guides. In addition, they provide distinctive aromatic profiles, particularly red fruit notes, and allow for the production of wines with more moderate alcohol levels, in line with current market trends. In the case of escursac, high water-use efficiency has also been demonstrated, a key factor in the current climatic context”, the Director General emphasised.

The amendment also updates the description of the colour of red wines to better reflect the current reality of the sector. In recent years, local varieties have gained prominence to the extent that, in 2024, more than 50% of classified batches were predominantly made from native grapes, resulting in wines with more variable colour intensity, without affecting their quality or prestige.

“With these amendments, we reaffirm our commitment to a wine sector that is better adapted to climate change, rooted in the territory, competitive and with a reduced administrative burden, while at the same time strengthening the identity and quality of Balearic Islands wines”, Llabrés concluded.