Bodegas Ribas
We could talk about our winery of the year, Bodega Ribas on Mallorca, all day long. But it's best to see and read for yourself! We sent wine journalist Britta Wiegelmann and cameraman Felix Groteloh to experience the winery and the family at first hand. Araceli and Javier Servera Ribas, the brother and sister team behind the wines, tell us how the oldest existing winery on the island survived phylloxera, why they love their local grape, the Mantonegro, so much and what the sea has to do with it all.
For 300 years, the Ribas winery in Consell, a village of 4000 people just a stone's throw from Palma, has been cultivating a real treasure: ancient indigenous grape varieties such as Mantonegro, Gargollassa, Callet, Prensal blanc and the rare Giró Ros. These grapes can only be found here – and who could offer them a better home than the oldest bodega still in existence on the island? Pedro Ribas planted the first vines in 1711, and today the vineyards cover 40 hectares at around 150 metres above sea level with sandy and calcareous, sometimes very stony soils that are cultivated organically.
White wines from Bodegas Ribas
Rosé wines from Bodegas Ribas
Red wines from Bodegas Ribas
from Bodegas Ribas
The winery is run by siblings Xavier and Araceli Ribas under the watchful eye of their mother María Antonia Oliver. Araceli trained with Bob Levi from the world-famous Harlan Estate in Napa Valley and with René Barbier, one of the great pioneers of the Priory. Xavier gained experience in France and New Zealand. For the two of them, there was never any question as to whether they would take over the family business: «The answer was always yes.»
The siblings are particularly passionate about the Mantonegro grape. They work tirelessly to improve it through selection. It is not easy to tame. The ripeness is uneven, so the harvest takes a long time. The oldest vines are over 80 years old. But with strict yield regulation, as practised by Araceli and Javier, it produces wonderfully independent, highly elegant wines. «We love them like you love your child», say the siblings.
Mantonegro shines on its own, but is also a team player: when blended with varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah, it produces exceptional cuvées with precision and class, structure and character. And: the grape produces fantastic rosés! In short, the vineyards of Mallorca are a real treasure trove. And there is no better place to discover the local varieties than at Ribas. Whatever the colour, you can feel the Mediterranean charm. A holiday in a glass!
Producer
Elias Mora
The bodega was founded in 2000 by Victoria Benavides and the name of the winery honours the former owner of the vineyards: Elías Mora. The oenologist is one of Spain's undisputed winegrowers.
Erwin Tinhof
For 11 generations now, the Tinhof family has been growing wine in Eisenstadt on the Leitha Range in Burgenland. This constellation is the source of their knowledge and experience as to which grape varieties flourish particularly well in this location, allowing the production of wines characteristic for the area. Neuburger, Pinot Blanc and Blaufränkisch, Sankt Laurent, some on vines established 55 years ago – are the focus of their expertise.
André Clouet / Jean François Clouet
We didn’t find the low house, dating from the 17th century, straight away, even though the village of Bouzy is not very large. Modest buildings are grouped around a courtyard, behind which a vineyard lies, similar to a clos.