Whatcha know about Mallorca? I didn’t know a whole lot and it was my first time there! Located just off the coast of Spain, it's 1405 sq miles and just under a million in population and known for its beautiful beaches, mountains, architecture... and you guessed it, wineries!

Listen as we:

• Discover a local Mercado (market) in the capital city Palma
• Eat our way through that market
• Then stumble into the coolest wines shop where we make new friends and learn about the local wines!

Ingrid’s shop is fantastic and I recommend a visit next time you are in the area. Her website is HERE. Their wines can be purchased through their site but international shipping is currently cost prohibitive, so you can find or Sip Spotlight wine from Mallorca at my affiliate site winedotcom, with very reasonable shipping (especially if you sign up for their yearly membership!)

This is an awesome red blend driven by the 2 native grapes you heard us learning about, Called and Mantonegro and a little Syrah for good measure. Use the link to have it shipped to your door!

Anima Negra-a 92 point Wine from Robert Parker!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Check out americanolivefarmer.com and use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Dad (Dominick): It's very good.

Except my mouth is full of food.

Hold on a second.

It's

alright.

We talk with our mouth full on this podcast.

It's okay.

Oh my goodness, I have been talking so much about our awesome Mediterranean cruise since getting back last week.

Hi.

Talk to my voice away.

So I apologize for the raspiness of my voice.

Good news is I just need to set this up for you in this introduction and then you're actually gonna hear footage from our awesome day in Mallorca.

Now if you heard last week's episode, which was in Sicily, this is kind of the same format where I had some small microphone on me as we made our way through the adventures of our day.

Hopefully you enjoyed that in Sicily.

So we did it again for our day just off the coast of mainland Spain and Mallorca.

And again, it was my partner, Michael, and then my parents, Dominic and Susan.

So you'll hear the four of us having an.

awesome adventure.

You know, Majorca is known for its beaches, its history, its architecture, but it's also known for wine.

And I have to say that I didn't know that as well as I should have because this stop on the cruise was a last minute addition.

It was not always going to be part of our itinerary and, and then it was.

So we didn't really do a whole lot of research and we didn't have a plan.

And That goes against my nature.

I love to research in plan if you can't tell.

But wow, what an awesome day that just spontaneously happened.

So as we walked off the ship, we actually were approached by a taxi driver and we made an agreement.

that, uh, he would take us around for a couple hours and show us the sights.

And one of the things that we mentioned to him was that we really were interested in learning about the food of the island.

And so the first piece that you'll hear is he dropped us off at the Mercado, the indoor market, which was not unlike in San Francisco, the Ferry Terminal

building, or if you know Philly's Um, Reading Terminal Market, you know, like an indoor market with all of the different vendors, stalls, and booths.

And it was so cool.

So we had a blast just looking at all of the meat and cheese and olives and actually, um, wound up having a picnic lunch in the Mercado with freshly sliced jamon and some local queso, some fresh bread, and of course, a bottle of Spanish wine, Albarino.

Yeah.

And then when we're walking through Palma, which is the capital city, and actually Michael led us to this very cool wine shop where we wound up having a spontaneous tasting with this wonderful couple, Ingrid

and her partner, I believe it's her husband, who own the shop called The Liquor Store, which is a deceiving name because it really is a beautiful wine shop.

And they have one of those dispenser machines where they can pour you like one ounce, two ounce, five ounces at a time.

Now, thankfully, Michael is fluent in Spanish, which came in very handy because as you'll hear, mine is quite limited.

And this couple, uh, spoke English, uh, beautifully.

But at one point you will hear the husband and Michael, um, having a conversation in Spanish as Ingrid and I are having a conversation in English.

So it was just very cool.

It was dynamic and there was a lot going on.

Much like we do wherever we go, especially when there's food and wine involved, we made friends.

And you know, this is one of the things that I love so much about travel, because travel and wine and travel and food really go hand in hand, and you wind up meeting like

minded people, and now we have new friends in Mallorca, who hopefully are gonna come visit us in California wine country one day, and we'll be able to reciprocate.

Now, you can order the wines from their shop, but the international shipping is a little bit prohibitive, so I was able to find the wine that we enjoyed and bought and took back onto the ship and drank on our veranda that night as we were sailing away.

I was able to find it on my partner website, wine.

com.

So that is, in fact, this week's Sip Spotlight.

Dad (Singing): Sip Spotlight!

It's the red blend of Cahiette Montenegro and it has a little bit of Syrah for good measure.

And I loved reading the story on this wine's website.

Because this Emime Negra was founded by two friends who were self taught in wine.

And it said that they decided the wines of Native America weren't reaching their full potential.

So they took some unused milk tanks from a dairy farm owned by one of their families and then made two barrels of wine from cayettes and they had bought them from local farmers.

So I thought that their story kind of echoed Michael's and I's humble beginnings with our Solvato wine, which is also why I have an affinity to this beautiful Sip Spotlight.

So I'm going to put the link in the show notes for the Enema Negre, or AN2 as they call it, which was a very interesting blend of some native red grapes from Mallorca.

that I did not know about until this very day that you are listening to.

So, Kayette and Montenegro, you'll hear me get a lesson from the shop owners on that.

And I was excited when I researched this wine and got home that it is a highly rated wine, 92 points, from Robert Parker.

It's like a 35 price point, which is great for an international red.

And it's delicious.

It's got hints of Smoky bacon and violets.

I mean, come on, who doesn't want that?

So check that out in the show notes.

And as always, don't forget, you can support the podcast and buy me a glass of wine so I can continue my research.

Again, link in the notes to do that.

Here we go with our awesome, spontaneous, unplanned day on the

Dad (Singing): beautiful island of Mallorca.

So

we are in

Palma.

Got off the ship this morning, hired a taxi driver to take us to some sites in the town and then he just dropped us off at the Mercado at the market and we just went from stall to stall, looking at the Hamon, queso, olives and chorizo.

And we got some beautiful ham sliced right off the big, big leg that hangs in the window.

Some lovely Spanish cheese.

And now we're sitting down in the market, in the middle of all the stalls.

And we are drinking tea.

Some beautiful Spanish Vino Blanco, which is Albarino based.

It's called Costa de Donas Vino Blanco.

Mostly Albarino in there.

And then we also ordered some paella.

And some albóndigas, meatballs, with tomate.

And we're just kind of like sitting on folding chairs in the middle of the market having a lovely impromptu lunch.

Michael, thoughts on your lunch experience?

It is good.

It's delicious.

Great little travel.

Great little taxi ride from the cruise ship to this market in the center of town.

Great assortment of fresh fish.

Tapas, paella.

We're in a

sushi place in here.

Even

sushi, yeah.

Get fresh ham right off the leg.

Fresh bread.

Amazing.

How's the wine?

Tapas with this wine?

It's

good.

Clean, crisp, white.

Anything to share, mama?

I'm not sharing my paella.

It's too good.

I wasn't asking you to share your food, I was asking you to share your thoughts.

Yes, everything is deliciously authentic, and this is the way to do it.

Very European.

Some cheese, some hams, some bread, and delicious paella.

And meatballs.

Are meatballs

local?

I'm sure it's local beef.

Big Dom, how's your lunch experience?

Dad (Dominick): It's very good.

Except my mouth is full of food.

Hold on a second.

It's

alright.

We talk with our mouth full on this podcast.

It's okay.

Dad (Dominick): We're in this market in Mallorca and this is quite an interesting experience.

We're sitting here at a little counter and we're having sliced ham right off the bone, freshly made cheese, paella, meatballs.

wine.

It can't get much better than this.

It's just very impromptu and rather sitting down in a restaurant.

This is great.

And there's this market is outstanding.

They sell everything from fish to perfume and liquor and everything else in between.

Wonderful, wonderful experience here in my okra.

Well said, Father.

Well said.

You like this picnic lunch, don't you?

And this is a Chardonnay Coupache with, uh, Plain Salt Blanc and Malvasia.

Stepped into a wine shop.

So how do you

Owner of Wine Shop: like

that

Owner of Wine Shop: one?

Good.

Tell me again the name of the grape.

Owner of Wine Shop: Cayenne.

Cadet.

Only growing on Mallorca or also in mainland of Spain?

Only here.

Owner of Wine Shop: Only here.

Wow.

Owner of Wine Shop: As it is now, only here.

There are other other places that they are trying to grow the grape but the thing is, they are not getting the same results.

Um this grape has been growing here for many centuries now.

Wow.

Owner of Wine Shop: And um it it's very Mediterranean.

It's very uh mineral but at the same time it's very fruity.

Very fruity.

Yeah, it's

Owner of Wine Shop: kind of a pinot, no.

Yeah.

A little bit more rough.

It is a kind of, um, like earthy,

rustic.

Yeah.

It's like a rustic pin.

Yeah.

So I just tasted the rose from C, but you also.

Make it as a red wine.

Owner of Wine Shop: Yes, I think this is the one that you can find almost Every part of the world now.

Uh huh.

Owner of Wine Shop: These two and these are 100 percent cayenne.

The other grape, local grape, is This wine that is called Montenegro.

Oh Montenegro.

Yes,

Owner of Wine Shop: the two grapes are kind of similar Just like this one is a little bit more elegant than the Montenegro

Montenegro is even more earthy and rustic Very interesting on the nose.

Which one is this, Michael, that you just gave me?

Rioja.

It's a Rioja.

A white from Rioja.

Owner of Wine Shop: How do you like your wine?

What's the profile of the wine that you like?

Do you like it fruity?

Do you like it Mira?

Do you like it acidic?

I like it fruity.

I like it with fruit.

Or with.

But acidic.

With acidity.

And tannic.

It's white.

I want a little fruit.

Like lemon.

Or um.

Ooh.

It's fruit.

It's fruit.

An acid.

Together.

Owner of Wine Shop: Mmm.

The name of the grape is Escursac.

Yes.

Escursac.

Owner of Wine Shop: Escursac, yes.

Escursac.

And it's a recovered grape, but it was almost extinct, and they are trying to bring it back.

Escursac

Owner of Wine Shop: Blanc.

And this one is exclusive from the island.

Wow.

No one else has this grape.

Fifteen euros?

Yes.

Si, si.

Yeah.

We'll get that and we'll get one more.

What else do you think?

I think we should get the red version of Cayette.

Si.

This one?

Si.

This

Owner of Wine Shop: is us.

Only because we're leaving tomorrow.

Yeah, we don't have Your shop is beautiful.

Thank you very much.

It's really nice.

Owner of Wine Shop: very much.

I

wish we would stay longer.

We could buy more bottles.

Owner of Wine Shop: How long are you staying in the island?

Um, well we're on the cruise ship today, so we're just leaving soon.

And then the cruise is finished tomorrow in Barcelona.

Owner of Wine Shop: In Barcelona?

Si.

I'm from Barcelona, you're flying back to the US?

Yes.

So the luggage is full.

Owner of Wine Shop: You've been collecting souvenirs.

Si, si, Malta,

Greece, yes, yes.

Thank you.

So

you're drinking wine tonight?

Yeah, but we drink wine every night, so.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Thank you.

This shop is beautiful.

Thank you.

very much.

Very nice.

No wine from California.

We

do.

We do.

We have this one.

We

have, uh, this one from California, Zinfando.

Yeah.

So we have this one.

Oh, three sticks.

Yes, yes,

yes.

I know three sticks.

I live in Sonoma.

I live ten minutes from there.

Three sticks.

Very close.

Yeah.

Imagine that.

Yeah.

I didn't even see those.

What, what an interesting three wines from California.

Three sticks.

That one, it was because somebody asked us to

keep,

to have it here.

But these two, these two are amazing.

Yeah,

this is the Pinot or the Chardonnay?

This is the Pinot.

Yeah.

Oh,

I recognize that label.

Rebel Rebel.

Napa Valley.

85 Euro shard.

Napa Valley, American Canyon.

I never even heard of it.

Really?

No, and we work in the wine business in California.

You do?

Yeah, yeah.

Let's check it out.

That's a cool label.

World's End.

What do you do?

We make wine.

You do?

In Sonoma County.

Yes.

Oh, that's amazing.

Yes.

Here, I'll give you our card.

We make Sangiovese.

It's called Solovato.

Okay.

It's a very small production.

200 cases.

Very small.

Okay.

So you export?

Yeah, not yet.

Too small still.

Okay.

But we're just starting.

direct to consumer through our website.

Okay.

For now.

Nice.

Yeah, but we're growing.

We're the owners.

Michael and I.

That's amazing.

Yeah, yeah.

We wanted to do that when we grew up.

Yeah.

Have you been to California?

We haven't.

No?

It's, it's, we have it as part of the plans to go.

Okay.

Because we were thinking about going to Seattle.

Get a car in Seattle and go down all the all

the different wine countries and yeah,

just go down and go to the whole thing, but we need to book at least a month to do this.

And I don't know what would be the best time to do it.

I mean, it's always good time and good weather.

The, the summer and the fall is the busiest, like here, tourism.

Because for us, it's impossible to leave.

February would be a great time.

Send me a message.

If you're going to come, I'll help you to plan.

I'm Nikki.

What's your name?

Ingrid.

Ingrid.

Nice to meet you, Ingrid.

And.

Do you know him a little bit?

We met about a week ago.

Yeah, if

you have any questions about visiting, just you can contact me.

I'll give you suggestions and I'd love to host you and show you around.

Finding like minded people.

That's right, it's so true.

We just

love to talk about wine.

We love to learn.

We love to try.

You taking wine from everywhere you've been.

A little bit as much as our luggage.

Drink it.

As we buy it.

We also

bring it on the ship and we drink it before dinner.

Oh really?

Yeah, so that's, we just bought two bottles here and we'll have them Are you

Dad (Singing): have them before dinner tonight?

Yes.

Yes.

We have a little happy hour

Dad (Singing): that's

on the veranda.

We sell away and say goodbye, and then we drink the wine from the place.

So yeah, we did that from Crete, Athens.

Santorini Malta.

Interesting wine, don't they?

Yes.

Malta's wine was very interesting.

Yeah.

And then day before yesterday we were in Sicily.

Okay.

In Aqua,

A town here in Majorca, it's in the middle of the island.

They have a whole town.

So you get to the Pinal town and everything has to do with wine.

It's beautiful.

Next time we're gonna come and stay here next time.

Yeah.

Yeah.

When you come next time, you come and stay for a bit.

Yeah.

We're going to drink.

Us?

Okay, done.

Yes, my new friend Ingrid.

Thank you my friend, it's nice to meet you.

Can we take a picture before we go?

Of course!

That way when I email you and you come visit me.

You remember me.

I'll remember Ingrid.

Thank you, these are my parents, Susan and Dominic.

You can tell, you can tell they're my parents.

You can tell, yeah.

Who do I look more like, him or her?

It's a mix.

Yeah.

His nose.

Yeah.

Her light color.

It's her face.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Lucky you.

Oh, so wonderful.

We have to go to the shop.

Oh, so nice to meet you.

I want to stay and talk with you about wine all day.

And what?

Send me a message when you come to California.

Thank you very much.

Bye Chacha.

Owner of Wine Shop: Have a good day.

Take care.

Thank you.

Pleasure.

Pleasure.

He

has the wine.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Good bye.

Have

Dad (Singing): a good day

that, that.

Oh my gosh, did you hear my dad singing his way out the door?

That's where I get it from.

As you can tell, we were just this big ball of energy and love with our new friends.

And my takeaway is, you know, next time you're traveling and it doesn't have to be somewhere exotic and international, it could be even walking somewhere new in your own town.

Look around, go somewhere new, meet people.

Um, especially, like I said, that common thread, food and wine, really just brings people together.

If you'd like to see some pictures and video of what you just listened to, go to my Instagram.

It's just at Nikki Lamberti.

So Nikki and I, K K I, and then Lamberti, L A M B E R T I.

And there is a highlight bubble that says Mallorca, and you can actually put some visuals to the sounds that you just heard.

And while you're there on my Instagram page, go ahead and give me a follow, that'd be great.

And feel free to send me a direct message.

How are you liking this?

How did you enjoy this episode?

What do you want to hear more of?

Can't wait to hear from you.

If you want to grab this beautiful Sip Spotlight wine from Mallorca from wine.

com, the link is in the show notes.

And if you are not aware.

Wine.

com has an awesome membership for 59 for the year.

It gets you free shipping on all of your wine orders of 49 and up.

So it pays for itself in a couple of orders.

Plus you get access to special discounts.

So I know from being in the wine business that sometimes the shipping cost of wine is what can make it a little bit off putting.

So wine.

com has a great deal with their membership.

I encourage you to check that out and then that way you could take advantage of it anytime that you want to grab the Sip Spotlight wines that we're highlighting in all of these different episodes.

If you're enjoying Sip with Nikki, please give us a rating, leave us a review, and share it with anyone that you know.

Thank you so much for listening and putting up with my raspy radio voice today.

And as always, C'est bois!

the this the