With his Vino de la Isla project, winemaker Henri Fink fulfils the dream of private finca owners to produce their own wine on Mallorca. The result is a unique variety of wines made from international and indigenous grape varieties that are well worth discovering.
Several million German tourists enjoy the sun, beach and regional cuisine on Mallorca every year. Very few people realise that viticulture played an important role on the island for a long time. Of the 30,000 hectares of vines that were once cultivated, less than 3,000 remain today. Of these, around 100 hectares are cultivated by Henri Fink and his wine-growing company WeinWert.
The German winemaker has been living on the island for ten years and had a brilliant idea in 2015: a unique project that promotes Mallorcan viticulture, makes optimum use of fallow land and makes finca owners happy at the same time. "There were and still are many overgrown plots of land on the island. Areas that have been waiting for decades to become part of the cultural landscape again. Many finca owners don't have the time to take care of recultivating the fallow land themselves. But they also don't want unkempt scrubland around their house. And who doesn't dream of having their own vineyard?" says Henri Fink about his successful business model, which for some years now has also included a wine factory in Algaida, in the heart of the island - with a cosy wine lounge and showroom for visitors.
Vine seedlings of the Mallorcan variety Manto Negro are waiting to be planted.
Vino de la IslaA turnkey, sustainably cultivated vineyard, own wines, customised labels: Everything from a single source, realised with great attention to detail and an ever-growing wealth of experience. "We advise our customers on all decisions. Whether it's about bureaucracy, the grape varieties to be cultivated, the style of the wines or what is important when designing and printing the labels. The wishes of the respective customers play a major role, and this is how very individual brands are created," explains Henri Fink. His team currently looks after over a hundred customers, with well over a hundred different wines from the current 2023 vintage in the cellar.
The wines are available both at the Château Vino de la Isla winery on Mallorca and in Germany via the sales subsidiary isla.wine GmbH, based in Passau. Private customers can have the wines sent to them via the online shop, immerse themselves in the unique wine world of the island and bring the Mallorca feeling directly into their own homes. Specialist retailers and restaurants can also purchase the wines in smaller quantities directly from the Passau warehouse via isla.wine GmbH, so that no costly, individualised import from Spain in pallet size is necessary.
"Our unique selling point is the range of wines we have in our range. The indigenous grape varieties play a particularly important role, especially the red Manto Negro and the white Prensal Blanc. This results in very unique wines that are particularly appealing to those who are curious about rarities."
Vino de la Isla offers an exciting and varied range for connoisseurs and wine lovers looking for unique yet affordable wines. Light, fruity red wines can be found here as well as structured wines with an international style or delicately savoury rosés. The variety of white wines in a wide range of styles is equally impressive. "The island's potential is enormous, and the island-wide origins of our wines allow for an extraordinary wealth of variety," explains Henri Fink.
Travellers to Mallorca who are interested in wine should definitely pay a visit to Algaida. The Château Vino de la Isla offers visitors a remarkable selection of wines. All wines can be tasted at leisure at the practical wine dispenser. The glass wine factory inside the bodega also provides a direct insight into the winemaking process. The multilingual team offers guided tours of the cellars and can also organise tastings with guests on request. And to sweeten the wait for your next holiday, the wines from Vino de la Isla are the perfect choice.