Binissalem DO concludes the 2026 harvest with outstanding grape quality, an early harvest season and 67% local grape varieties.
In the Binissalem Designation of Origin (DO) area, harvesting began on a limited scale during the first week of August, with grapes picked from selected plots of Moscatel, Giró ros and Chardonnay. The main harvest was completed on 25 September, while the campaign officially came to an end on 9 October, with a small quantity of grapes still being brought in for the production of special wines.
The campaign was characterised by a fast and intensive harvest, during which winegrowers and wineries worked tirelessly over six weeks to obtain the best possible fruit from their vineyards.
Climatic conditions and harvesting strategies
In our initial harvest announcement, we highlighted the climatic conditions under which this year’s campaign was unfolding.
According to Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), June was very warm, with an average temperature of 24.5°C, 2.3°C above the reference average, and temperatures reaching 39°C in Mallorca. July saw record temperatures and was the hottest and driest July since 1961, with an average temperature of 28.1°C, 3°C above the reference average. Up to three heatwaves occurred during the month, with further heatwaves continuing into August.
August was extremely hot, with an average temperature of 28.6°C, 3.3°C above normal. A 13-day heatwave was recorded between 6 and 18 August, with temperatures reaching 40°C in some parts of the island. The increase in the number of tropical and exceptionally hot nights is also worth noting, as these conditions influence harvest planning and timing.
Despite these extreme temperatures, grape health and quality have been outstanding, leading to excellent expectations for the wines of the 2026 vintage.
Whereas harvesting used to be a slower, sequential process, organised by grape variety and interrupted by breaks between picking periods, it has now become a continuous operation. Different varieties are harvested in quick succession, with their picking periods frequently overlapping.
Harvest planning is also geared towards producing wines with moderate alcohol levels, in response to growing demand from both the market and consumers. In this context, bringing harvest dates forward can help limit sugar accumulation in the grapes and, consequently, reduce the potential alcohol content of the resulting wines.
An earlier harvest can also help preserve higher acidity, contributing to freshness, balance and aromatic expression. However, the optimal picking date must take the overall ripeness of the grapes into account, balancing alcohol potential, acidity, and aromatic and phenolic maturity without compromising sensory quality.
Production figures
A total of 799,000 kg of grapes were harvested for the production of wines covered by the Binissalem Designation of Origin. Of this total, 598,000 kg were red grape varieties and 201,000 kg were white grape varieties.
Significantly, 67% of the harvested grapes came from local varieties: Manto negro, Callet, Gargollassa, Escursac, Esperó de Gall, Moll, Moscatell and Giró ros.
Production by variety was in line with expectations, with no significant reductions attributable to climatic conditions.
Manto negro, the leading red grape variety in the Binissalem DO, accounted for 57% of the total red grape harvest. Including the other local red grape varieties, local varieties collectively accounted for 63% of total red grape production, highlighting the importance of indigenous varieties in the viticulture of the Binissalem DO.
Among the white grape varieties, Moll accounted for 58% of production, Giró ros for 15% and Moscatel for 5%. Together, these varieties represented 78% of the total white grape harvest.
Strengthening the identity and distinctive character of Binissalem DO wines
Since the previous harvest campaign, the Binissalem Designation of Origin Regulatory Council (CRDO Binissalem), with scientific and technical advice from the Institute for Agro-Environmental Research and Water Economics at the University of the Balearic Islands (INAGEA), has introduced amendments to its product specification to strengthen the distinctive identity of the region’s wines.
These changes include the authorisation of new local grape varieties, such as Escursac, Esperó de Gall, Fogoneu and Giró negre; a reduction in the minimum acidity requirement for wines; revisions to sensory descriptions; regulations governing the use of municipal names on labels; and the creation of a special designation, “Vinyet”, for wines made primarily from local grape varieties and subject to more demanding quality requirements.
CRDO Binissalem will continue working on the changes needed to uphold this commitment to quality and differentiation, highlighting the region’s viticultural heritage and local grape varieties, with the aim of enabling the DO to produce and certify wines made from any of these varieties.
The promotional and communication activities of the CRDO Binissalem are co-financed by the European Union.
