Sights in Esporles — 2 of Our Favourites

Tucked away in the luscious green valley on Mallorca’s western coast, Ses Rotes is more than just a well kept stable. Guests can enjoy guided horseriding through olive groves and scenic trails, followed by tastings of small-batch, locally produced wines in a rustic finca setting. The experience is refined yet laid-back, personal, and full of soul, ideal for couples, families, or solo travelers looking for something a little different. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or trying it for the first time, Ses Rotes – Horses & Wine provides a magical setting in which to indulge.

Whether you're sipping under the sun or exploring the finca on horseback, Ses Rotes offers a unique taste of Mallorca—where good wine, local history, and a love for the land all come together.

Since 1996, Ses Rotes has combined a deep love of horses with the craft of organic winemaking. Set on a scenic estate at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains, the property features 6 hectares of vineyards and a full-scale equestrian centre—making it a truly unique destination on the island.

Guests can enjoy horseback riding through 5km of breathtaking trails winding around the vineyard and into the mountains, or explore the estate’s top-class riding facilities, including indoor and outdoor arenas, horse walker, breeding centre, paddocks, and stables.

The wine side of Ses Rotes focuses on sustainable, easy-drinking wines, with two ranges: Ses Rotes and the more refined 16 Hands, inspired by the perfect height of a showjumping horse. The wines are crafted under the expertise of renowned winemaker Andreu Oliver Tril, and the estate is managed with care by viticulturist Gaspar Alemany.

Tastings are held al fresco either amidst the picturesque surroundings of the winery or beneath the shade of olive trees with views of the lush Sauvignon Blanc vines. In the cooler months they move into the winery where the ambiance of the winemaking process really enhances the enjoyment of the wines.

Stylish, soulful, and rooted in local tradition, Ses Rotes is where equestrian heritage and vineyard elegance meet.

When Jaume conquered Mallorca he divided the island into four feudal estates, giving one to Count Nuno Sanc, who settled at La Granja. In 1239 the Count handed the estate to Cistercian monks to found Mallorca's first monastery.

Highlights of the tour include an aristocratic drawingroom with its own theatre, the family Chapel and a dungeon with a torture chamber, but the real reason for visiting La Granja is to learn about rural Mallorcan traditions. Workshops, cellars and kitchens contain displays of everyday objects. On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, women in traditional costume give demonstrations of lacemaking, embroidery and spinning, donkeys turn threshing wheels and there are tastings of cheese, wine, sausages, doughnuts and fig cake. Look carefully and you just might see a tray of coca (Mallorcan pizza) being removed from the restaurant oven and carried to the medieval kitchens to be served beside a log fire. There are also displays of bagpipe music and folk dancing, which are entertaining although perhaps not terribly authentic.

Escape from the tour groups by walking in the grounds, which contain botanical gardens, waterfalls and a thousand-year-old yew - there is a 1.2 km signed walk. Look out for the exhibit listed in the guide as 'dog' - it is just that, a ca de bestair, or black-coated Mallorcan guard dog on a chain.

If you have not gorged yourself on free samples, the restaurant serves good Mallorcan staples like pa amb oli, arros brut and sopas mallorquinas.