Mallorcan Paralympic athlete Joan Munar has received the first Golden Grape award, an award established by the Council of Mallorca to celebrate the island’s winemaking tradition and recognize individuals or organizations that help promote the image of Mallorca.
The awards ceremony took place on Thursday at the Castell de Sant Carles in Palma, in an event presided over by the President of the Regional Government, Llorenç Galmés, who was accompanied by the Regional Minister of Economic Promotion and Local Development, Pilar Amate.
The jury wanted to recognize Munar’s sporting career and the values he embodies both on and off the field. The athlete, who competes with a visual impairment, has become one of the most prominent figures in Balearic sport thanks to a career marked by perseverance and the ability to overcome adversity. Among her most notable achievements is the bronze medal she won in the long jump at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
During his speech, Galmés highlighted that the new award was created with the goal of recognizing Mallorca’s winemaking tradition and the work of a sector that, in addition to generating wealth and employment, is part of the island’s cultural and scenic identity. The president also highlighted that Joan Munar is a role model for Mallorcan society for his sporting achievements and the values he embodies.
For his part, Amate noted that the award has been organized in collaboration with the Binissalem and Pla i Llevant appellations of origin, as well as with the Protected Geographical Indication Vi de la Terra Mallorca. As he pointed out, the objective is to highlight the importance of a sector that has helped preserve the region and has placed Mallorcan wines among the most recognized on the national and international scene.
Representatives of the main institutions of the Balearic Islands attended the event, as well as officials from the appellations of origin, and winemakers and wine producers from across the island.
The Golden Grape is a sculpture created by the artist Esther Fuster Jáudenes. The piece, made of wood and iron wire, depicts a golden grape crowned by three vine leaves.
The ceremony, hosted by Majo García, concluded with a tasting session organized by Can Blai, accompanied by a selection of wines produced in Mallorca.
More than 120 wineries with quality seals
Wine production remains one of the most deeply rooted sectors of the agri-food industry in Mallorca. Currently, more than 120 wineries are affiliated with one of the island’s recognized quality schemes.
The Binissalem Denomination of Origin comprises 12 wineries and covers 513 hectares of vineyards. The PDO Pla i Llevant also includes 12 producers and covers 549 hectares of vineyards. Meanwhile, the PGIs Vi de la Terra Mallorca brings together 84 wineries and around 1,923 hectares of vineyards spread across various municipalities on the island.
