Ànima Negra

Ànima Negra – the black soul of Mallorca

Some wineries are born out of calculation, others out of conviction. Ànima Negra clearly belongs to the latter category. When childhood friends Pere Obrador and Miquel Àngel Cerdà, together with Francesc Grimalt, founded the estate near Felanitx in 1994, Pere had just been running a dairy farm with more than 400 cows – and in his free time, he was a self-taught geneticist and biologist. This combination of down-to-earth roots and scientific curiosity continues to define Ànima Negra today. The first wines were vinified in former milk tanks, and as early as 1997, renowned international critics took notice of the estate and praised the wines highly.

A place with memory

The winery is located on the old Son Burguera estate, whose buildings date back to the 13th century and have housed facilities for wine production from the very beginning. Its location in southeastern Mallorca, not far from Felanitx, is no coincidence: it is precisely here that the Callet grape finds the conditions it needs – the iron-oxide-rich "Vermell" soil, the salty wind from the coast, and the relentless sunshine that, according to tradition, literally bakes the soil. The sub-region is called Son Negre , "dark place" – a name that aptly describes the essence of these wines.

Ànima Negra cultivates more than 135 carefully selected parcels of land , which the estate either owns or controls. Almost all are located within a ten-kilometer radius of the winery, and most of the vines are between 50 and 85 years old . These old vines, trained in the traditional goblet style , naturally produce small, concentrated grapes – which is why the estate completely forgoes additional irrigation and fertilization.

Philosophy: Honesty in the vineyard and in the cellar

Ànima Negra was probably the first winery in Mallorca to consistently focus exclusively on native grape varieties. This decision was not a given at the time. While international grape varieties threatened to overwhelm the island, Obrador and Cerdà held fast to Callet, Manto Negro, and Fogoneu – varieties that only grow here in the way they do.

• No chemical insecticides or herbicides are used in the vineyard; biodynamic practices take precedence.
• The grapes are harvested by hand in 10-kg boxes .
• In the cellar, wild yeasts are predominantly used; the mashing time averages 25 to 30 days.
• Fermentation takes place in cement tanks and wooden barrels.

Xavier Ausàs , an internationally renowned oenologist who previously served as technical director of Bodega Vega Sicilia, serves as the estate's wine consultant. In 2010, the Slow Food movement included Ànima Negra in its Ark of Taste , recognizing its commitment to preserving endangered culinary traditions. Today, 85% of the wines are exported ; the estate's reputation extends far beyond the Balearic Islands.

The wines: Callet takes center stage

The wine range revolves around the Callet grape, whose potential Ànima Negra has unlocked like no other estate in Mallorca. All wines bear the VT Mallorca seal.

The ÀN is the flagship wine: a blend of 95% Callet and 4% Mantonegro and Fogoneu, which matures for seventeen months in French oak after fermentation, followed by one year of bottle aging. It is the most concentrated expression of what these old vines in Son Negre are capable of achieving.

The ÀN/2 is the more accessible entry point into the world of Ànima Negra: 65% Callet , complemented by Manto Negro, Fogoneu and around 15% Syrah. It conveys the Mediterranean character of the island in a more direct, enjoyable way.

In addition, there is the Quíbia , the estate's only white wine: a cuvée of the local varieties Premsal and Giró Ros, which, with its characteristic salty background, makes the coastal location of the vineyards noticeable.

Son Negre occupies a special place: it is not released every year – only when the aging process results in a truly exceptional wine. It comes from the estate's oldest vines and is produced in close collaboration with the estate's friend, the painter Miquel Barceló .

Ànima Negra at Vinoscout

At Vinoscout you'll find a carefully curated selection from the Ànima Negra range. The ÀN/2 (€21.00) is the ideal introduction, while the ÀN (€46.95) is the wine for those who want to delve deeper into the soul of Mallorca. For those who prefer larger formats, the ÀN is available as a magnum (€108.40) and a 3.0-liter bottle (€209.00) – as is the ÀN/2 as a magnum (€50.41). Don't miss the white wine Quíbia (€16.80): it's the freshest and most approachable chapter in this exceptional estate story.