Serra de Tramuntana-Costa Nord is the lengthily named Vino de la Tierra title that covers the north-western third of Mallorca, the Spanish island in the western Mediterranean. The Serra de Tramuntana-Costa Nord wine-growing zone takes in the island's north coast (costa nord) and the Tramuntana mountain range, which dominates the skyline along the coast here.
Mallorca is the biggest of the Balearic Islands – its name means ‘the bigger one’ – and it is much better known as a tourist destination than a wine region. And yet the island has a relatively long (if not particularly distinguished) history of winemaking. It is thought that viticulture commenced when the Romans began settling the island around 123 BC. The tradition continued and by the 14th Century, a healthy sea trade had developed, thanks to a tax exemption from the local authorities. Sweet Malvasia-dominant wines known as Malmsey put the islands on the wine map after the grape was introduced from Italy in the 15th century.
In the late 19th Century, the phylloxera louse arrived in Europe from the Americas and began its rapid destruction of vineyards. At first, as mainland wine regions were laid low by the pest, demand for Mallorca's wines soared. But the feast was short-lived; phylloxera eventually made its way to Mallorca and wreaked havoc there too. Few vineyards survived, and many of those that did were grubbed up during the European Union vine-pulling schemes of the 1980s, which were designed to reduce the wine glut caused by production far exceeding demand. In the 1990s, a small number of producers on the island began breathing life back into its wine industry, and in 2007, two Vino de la Tierra titles were created: Mallorca VT and Serra de Tramuntana-Costa Nord itself.
The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is made up of many mountain folds, which are in turn made up of valleys and ridges, creating diverse mesoclimates suited to viticulture. The soils here are varied, but the most significant in a vinicultural context are the limestone and loams. Altitude plays a significant role here, among the peaks and ridges that rise to 4740 feet (1445m) above sea level. Temperatures are typically cooler than in the flatter, sunbaked southern half of the island, and the area also receives significantly more rain each year (up to three times as much).
Varietal white wines have been the mainstay of the island since the 15th Century, and this is still true today. Malvasia and Chardonnay are the varieties of choice for most Serra de Tramuntana-Costa Nord wines. Malvasia is fruity, with pear and melon notes, while Chardonnay tends towards the tropical end of the fruit spectrum. Moscatel, Moll, Parellada, Macabeo and Sauvignon Blanc are also authorized for use.
The permitted red grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo), Syrah, Monastrell, Callet and Manto Negro, and these are also usually made into single-variety wines.
