La Residencia, a Belmond Hotel, Mallorca, offers new excursion to organic winery near Manacor

This year, La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, nestled in the enchanting village of Deià on the West coast of the island invites you to an excursion further afield to go back in time and into the heart of rural Mallorca.

Discover traditional winemaking

For hotel guests who fancy expanding their horizon and leaving the protective feel of the majestic Tramuntana for a while, this exclusive trip from Belmond La Residencia to the beautiful 15th-century winery, Son Sureda Ric, will be an unforgettable experience. Far off the beaten track and down a bumpy road near Manacor, lies this authentic piece of Mallorca where a knowledgeable driver will take all curious explorers to, passing through unspoilt villages and landscapes.

Visiting this family-run business and meeting its passionate oenologist, Javier Jara, is a true pleasure. Groups can join him for a cool drink in a shady spot where he talks about his property. It was acquired by his grandfather, one of the first “green” farmers on the island, who passed his revolutionary ideas onto his son. “My father was talking about ecology in the 1960s,” says Javier. “His example and ideas have influenced everything we do in our finca.” The family’s philosophy of less is more is reflected in their wine production. “We focus on quality rather than quantity – a few bottles I wasn’t happy with have been stored in our warehouse. Those will never reach the market.”

The real Mallorca

Guests can stroll round the peaceful verdant estate, learning about the typical stages of production in the ecological wine making process as well as the love and care this hard-working family puts into their wines and other products, such as honey. The show-around finishes in a stone-clad courtyard, where Javier treats the group to a tasting of his favourite bottles of the delicious reds. “Our high-quality organic grapes are especially suitable for long-ageing reds,” he explains. “More and more I’m enjoying our oldest wines, for example the Rogent 2005. If you’re patient, wines still reveal surprising qualities.” 

Lunchtime has come, and after a feast of homemade, organic specialities, participants can take their glass and settle in the ancient chapel to discover another string to Javier’s bow. The accomplished guitarist entertains them with bossa nova sounds as his charming wife Carmè, the marketing brain behind the vineyard, bewitches everybody with her soothing voice. “As a child I was always attracted to musical instruments,” Javier reveals. “In 2012, I decided to learn the jazz guitar. It means getting up at 05:30 every day to practice for two hours before going to the winery! Actually, I feel the sensory experiences relating to wine and music have much in common”.

The set-up invites to linger for a while and soak up this authentic ambience before leaving Son Sureda Ric’s enchanting gates.