Soca-Rel
Binissalem, Mallorca, Spain

Pep Rodríguez
Pep Rodríguez, a self-described “vinyòvol” (Mallorcan for a passionate winemaker), is the heart of Soca-Rel, a micro-winery embodying Mallorca’s authentic viticultural heritage. Born in Capdepella in 1971, Pep rejected careers in tourism or construction, drawn instead to the tranquility of the countryside. Starting in the 1990s, he worked on a traditional Mallorcan farm growing cereals, olives, and fruit, learning from local farmers about native grape varieties. His winemaking journey began informally, crafting Manto Negro wines with friends, and deepened through work at José L. Ferrer, Mallorca’s largest winery. In 2008, Pep leased abandoned vineyards between Binissalem and Consell, launching Soca-Rel in 2015 with a 2019 debut vintage. A farmer at heart, Pep lives in the vineyard 365 days a year, practicing organic, biodynamic, and regenerative viticulture. His philosophy—“forget the calendar in the vineyard”—prioritizes local varieties like Escursac and Manto Negro, producing fresh, fruity wines that reflect Mallorca’s terroir. His Escursac 2019, a 100% varietal red, stunned critics with its brilliance, elegance, and minerality, while his Manto Negro and Manto Negro-Escursac blend offer vibrant, Mediterranean freshness. With only 15,000 bottles produced annually, Pep’s wines are coveted by top island restaurants.

Soca-Rel
Founded in 2015 in Binissalem, Mallorca, Soca-Rel is a micro-winery operating from a humble garage, eschewing flashy facilities for raw authenticity. The name “Soca-Rel,” a Mallorcan expression for “pure stock,” reflects Pep’s commitment to indigenous grapes and cultural preservation. Spanning 4.5 hectares of organic vineyards on clay-loam soils with gravel, Pep cultivates Manto Negro, Escursac, Esperó de Gall, Fogoneu, Mancés de Tibús, and Vinater Blanc. His Escursac, nearly lost to phylloxera in the 19th century, is a flagship, fermented with native yeasts in plastic vats for 8 days at 28°C, using whole berries and unfiltered bottling for a fine, spicy, mineral profile. The Manto Negro-Escursac blend delivers sweet aromas of strawberries, cherries, and citrus, with a light, fluid palate. Pep’s minimalist approach—stainless steel aging, no chemical inputs—yields precise, delicate wines despite Mallorca’s warm climate. Surrounded by grasses, flowers, and fruit trees, his vineyards benefit from natural shade and deep roots (up to 5 meters), creating a microclimate 12°C cooler in summer. Soca-Rel’s small production (2,000 bottles in 2019, now 15,000) makes its wines rare gems, celebrated for their terroir-driven authenticity.

Address
Soca-Rel
Carrer de la Concòrdia, 07350 Binissalem, Mallorca, Spain