Sept-Oct Box
Wine Information

The island wines of Spain and Portugal are some of the most exciting wines coming on to the market today. What’s interesting though is how relatively unknown they are given their historical importance. Wine lovers are delighted to discover them in situ on holiday, but they still have a long way to go before becoming as recognized and appreciated as Rioja, Priorat, or Port. 

 

The surrounding archipelagos of Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentura), Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Tenerife, ,.) and Madeira (Portuguese) are not only historically important – they were vital pit stops along the way for Spanish and Portuguese explorers where local wine was traded for exotic goods.

 

Many of the grape varieties grown on these islands are not found anywhere else in the world, and those that are (such as Malvasia) offer a fascinating glimpse into how wines and vines moved around from Italy, Spain, Northern Africa and the islands by the Ancient Romans. 

 

Their flavours are and styles are different from one island to the next, but what they do have in common is a bristling freshness, lower alcohol levels (making them easily more enjoyable), and a sense of personality.