There are moments throughout the agricultural year that remain etched in the memory and in the hearts of all of us who are part of this industry. On our estate, that sublime and long-awaited moment has finally arrived: the 2026 grape harvest at Sa Cabana is now officially underway.

This is, without a doubt, the most significant, demanding and exciting time of the entire wine-growing calendar – a milestone that encapsulates and sums up absolutely all the effort, unceasing dedication and care we have poured into the vineyard over almost a whole year.

The vineyard’s triumph in the face of a year of extreme heat

This particular campaign has not been just another one in our history. This year’s weather conditions have been particularly difficult, presenting a truly demanding challenge to all of us who work in the fields day in, day out. However, our team’s composure, constant vigilance and foresight have enabled us to successfully complete the farming work, overcoming the climatic challenges in Mallorca to welcome the highlight of the harvest.

The grapes have reached harvest time in exceptional condition. This achievement is not down to chance, but to the meticulous work we carried out in advance to protect and care for the vineyard, preparing the vines well in advance so that they could withstand and cope with the season’s high temperatures.

Seeing bunches like those of our Chardonnay variety arrive at the winery in such excellent condition gives us a sense of satisfaction and pride that is hard to describe. It shows us that the hard work carried out in the vineyard bears fruit even in the most adverse circumstances.

The life cycle of the vine: from winter dormancy to the architecture of pruning

To fully appreciate the significance of the start of the 2026 grape harvest in Sa Cabana, we need to look back in time and observe how nature behaves during the quiet months. The grape harvest marks a twofold milestone on our estate: it is the starting point for the creation of new wines, but at the same time it marks the end of the vine’s production cycle for this year.

Once the harvest is over, the vine enters a necessary period of rest and recovery. The pace of this process is dictated by the island’s weather conditions. We wait patiently for the temperatures to drop, aiming as far as possible for them to fall below 10 °C between December and January. Once the cold weather has set in, we begin the pruning the vines, formally marking the start of the new season for the coming year.

Pruning is a task that involves a very tight race against the clock in the vineyard calendar. It is the most crucial aspect of vineyard management and requires a very careful technical and analytical approach:

• Yield management: With every cut we make to the vine shoots, we determine the amount of fruit that the vine will need to nourish and sustain over the coming season.
• Background assessment: We carry out a thorough analysis of the vine’s behaviour and any damage or adverse weather conditions it has suffered over the previous year in order to make decisions tailored to each vine.
• Preparing for budbreak: We lay the structural foundations so that, when spring begins to arrive and the vines start to come to life, the new growth emerges in a healthy, balanced way and with the necessary vigour.

‘It’s very hard work, like most jobs in the field. But at the same time, it’s a very rewarding job. That’s why it sparks a curiosity to find out and learn more about the world of winemaking, because it’s such a vast and extensive field.’ — Juan Carlos, director and winemaker at Sa Cabana.

Winemaking rigour: the winemaking process step by step

Transporting the fruit from the rows in the vineyard to the winery’s storage facilities requires strict discipline to ensure that the grapes’ potential remains intact. Then, the We carry out the winemaking process, from harvest to the tank, using our own very specific procedure:

1. Resting and temperature control of the grapes: Like most prestigious wineries, as soon as the grapes are harvested, we store them and leave them for a period of 12 hours. The main aim of this step is to lower the temperature of the freshly picked fruit and thus prevent any risk of premature oxidation.
2. Manual sorting table: Early the next morning, we sort through the entire harvest on a sorting table. There, we carry out a thorough inspection of the grapes that have arrived at the facility.
3. Destemming and pressing: Following selection, we proceed with the destemming process to separate the grapes from the stems, before transferring the grape mass to the press for pressing.
4. Transfer to the vats: All the must obtained from this careful pressing is finally transferred to the vats, at which point the entire winemaking process officially begins.

Our new winery on the estate: a strategic advantage and a dream come true

This year, 2026, marks a transformative milestone and a real turning point for our organisation. We are launching the a new winery on the estate, a facility designed and built with a great deal of effort that has completely transformed daily life at Sa Cabana.

The location of the winery, built on the estate itself and surrounded by our vineyard, provides unbeatable logistical proximity between the vineyard and the grape reception area. This proximity greatly facilitates work during the harvest, offering a major practical advantage for all staff and ensuring that the grapes are handled with unrivalled efficiency.

Within this space, technology and tradition coexist through the use of specialised equipment designed to diversify and enhance the quality of every Mallorcan wine we produce:

• Specialised vats: We have vats with specifications tailored to the winemaking process for red and white grapes.
• Specialised fermentation tanks: This year we will begin fermenting one of our red wines in tanks specially designed to control the wine’s profile down to the last detail.
• Ageing in French oak: We have imported specialised machinery and French oak barrels directly from France to age and refine our most complex wines.
• Vintage storage room: We have a room specially fitted out to house our entire stock of wines, where the various vintages are left to rest, patiently awaiting the perfect moment to be released onto the market.
• Tasting and events area: A space designed for socialising, currently under construction but due to be fully operational by the end of August, designed to host tastings, events and gatherings for wine lovers.

The human factor: vocation, learning and a love of Mallorca

Behind every technical decision, every piece of infrastructure and every bottle lies the human element that breathes life into the estate. The story of Juan Carlos, our director and winemaker, perfectly illustrates how a connection to the land can reshape the course of a life.

Originally, Juan Carlos studied veterinary medicine. However, due to life’s circumstances, his path crossed with that of the Sa Cabana family and he found himself responsible for taking direct charge of the vineyard. That daily contact out in the vineyard awakened in him a deep love for the vine and a personal curiosity that led him to make a momentous decision: to pursue formal education and study oenology. It was a demanding change of direction but one which, over time, has proved to be entirely worthwhile.

These five or six years at the helm of the project have been a constant learning experience. Realising that no two years are the same in agriculture and that the weather dictates its own rules requires a constant attitude of humility and adaptability.

The certainty of a project driven by passion and experience

The knowledge gained from understanding the behaviour of the vine in Mallorca, combined with the support of being surrounded by people with a wealth of technical and interpersonal expertise, has given the team the maturity, knowledge and confidence that this major project will succeed with certainty and with the same passion as always.

At Sa Cabana, we embark on this exciting journey from vine to glass, knowing that the work in the vineyard is hard but deeply rewarding. That is why we invite you to join us throughout this year and celebrate with our winery the start of a new vintage that promises to leave an indelible mark.

We are kicking off the 2026 grape harvest at Sa Cabana. Discover how we transform the hard work of the vineyard into the soul of every Mallorcan wine at our estate.