A World of Choice

Do you ever yearn for a Californian Zinfandel, a South African Pinotage or a bottle of something luscious from Australia’s Barossa Valley? abcMallorca explores Isla Catavinos – a veritable treasure trove of wines from around the world.

You know it’s a serious wine store as soon as you enter their smart wooden-floored premises in a quiet street in Palma, just off C/Blanquerna. Wooden shelf units line the walls and hundreds of bottles vie for your attention. If you’ve never been before, allow yourself an hour or so for a good browse among all those labels and you’ll discover there are wines here for every taste, occasion and budget.

In fact, Isla Catavinos offers a choice of 1,200 different wine references, and is the island’s exclusive distributor for Mundidrinks, Alan Perkal’s Llucmajor-based wine importers. Not surprisingly, Isla Catavinos supplies the island’s top-end restaurants and hotels, which recognise that their guests appreciate a wider choice of wines, such as those from the southern hemisphere or European countries other than Spain. But many clients are individuals who like some variety in their home wine racks or cellars – whether it’s a bottle from as far away as the New World or as local as Binissalem. Prices for Mallorcan wines are certainly keen: we spotted several local favourites at prices slightly lower than in some of the island’s supermarket chains.

The store also sells complementary products, such as Pulltex corkscrews, bottle openers and other accessories, and sparkling Spiegelau glasses.

There are so many quality (and some exceptional) wines on offer, that the place has an almost reverential air about it – but it’s not at all stuffy and clients with little knowledge of wines shouldn’t feel intimidated.

The friendly young Spanish team here is enthusiastic about sharing their passion and knowledge;

store manager Vilislav Vili tells us that education is a large part of their business and they employ a knowledgeable young sumiller, Daniel Arias, who trained in Madrid and Valencia.

Isla Catavinos lives up to its name: there are free public wine tastings every Friday evening (18.00-20.00 hrs), which take place in the large well-equipped room at the back of their store – designed specifically for hosting public and private tastings, courses and even showcooking. And it’s a well-used space. There’s also a third room, particularly suitable for serious sensorial appreciation and understanding of wines. It’s a place where wine professionals – such as members of the Federación de Sumilleres de las Islas Baleares – come to enhance their product knowledge and skills.

But there are also courses for enthusiasts who simply want to improve their knowledge of wines – or impress their friends – because wine gives them pleasure. Interested in holding a wine tasting at your business or home? Talk to Isla Catavinos.

Well-known bodegas often send representatives for tastings and talks. In February, for example, a member of the prestigious company Lustau flew in from Jerez to lead a sherry tasting and explain the fascinating process of producing their fine sherry wines.

But it’s not all about wines: there are cookery demonstrations and food tastings too, such as the series of fish workshops held last month. It’s certainly worth bookmarking their website, and keeping up to date with their blog, for details of upcoming events. Better still, become a regular visitor to the store where wine is a seriously fun business.

Isla Catavinos

C/Guillem Massot 45

Palma

Opening hours: Mondays- Fridays 10.00-14.00 hrs & 16.30-20.30 hrs; Saturdays 11.00-14.00 hrs