Bar la Sang is one of the trendiest places in Palma, especially for those who love authentic wines. Today we talk to its owner, Lukas Lundgren, a Swede with charisma and attitude, based in Mallorca, where he evangelizes about the best wines from Bar La Sang, the first bar in Mallorca to specialize in natural national and international wines.
Located in an old corner bar with a warm and rustic atmosphere, it is close to the famous local church better known as Iglesia de la Sangre (Church of the General Hospital of Palma de Mallorca) which enjoys great devotion among Mallorcans who go there to pray for their needs.
In the same way, we lovers of natural wines come to this place as loyal customers and entrust ourselves to the miraculous juices of Lukas’ careful selection.
▷ In a Snapshot
We talked about this venue in its early days in our Travel Hidden Places article, and now we talk to its owner, Lukas Lundgren, who with his friendly and laid-back style always welcomes us with appreciation and gives us rocky and creative nights with the best bottles and from which the best ideas come out.
#Talking with Lukas Lundgren from Bar La Sang
Lukas Lundgren of Bar La Sang, reveals today his passion, his journey in this attractive world, which promises to grow in the coming years.
Wine lovers, you can’t miss it!
1-BAR LA SANG. How did this project come about and when did you see it located in the center of Palma?
It has truly been a wonderful journey so far, we are amazed to see that so many people on the island and from outside have taken a liking to our place already. Since a few years ago we felt like a place like this was something that was missing in Palma de Mallorca.
It didn’t feel like Mallorcas restaurants or bars had a lot to offer in terms of Real Authentic Wines (Natural wines) as it does today. Sure, back then you would find small pearls here and there but nothing substantial in my opinion. Basically; No one wanted to take a chance on these wines which was really sad since the demand was growing in the rest of Spain and also around the world.
We started up our import Lundgren Wines and tried to start to distribute wines but no one really wanted to work with us, so we set up our wine store on Raisins (natural wine app by qualifications only), and all of a sudden we had a bunch of people showing up and wanting to buy wines! This then motivated us more to open up a place of our own. We started looking all around Palma until we fell in love with the local that today is Bar La Sang.
The location on the Plaça de l’Hospital felt cozy and slightly secluded from the city hustle and bustle, yet close enough to the city center. The history with the Hospital Church and Santo Cristo de La Sangre “The bleeding christ “ That the holy blood is running down Costa De La Sang to La Rambla, it felt like a place to good to be true to set up a wine bar.
2-LOW INTERVENTION. Why did you decide to orient your bar with an almost unique and exclusive offer to natural and/or minimal intervention wines?
We’ll these are the wines that we are most passionate about, we also find that the more pure the wines are in sense of less human & chemical intervention the more honest and pure is the expression of soil and grape! to us, this is what defines wines.
These wines can be so fun and radically different from how we know wines today. I think it is about time that we start widening our minds to what wine really is and recognize how diverse it can be if you dare look outside “the box”!
The way things are heading in the world today I also find that is our responsibility to start seeing the importance of supporting sustainable agriculture. No matter if it is the wine in your glass or the vegetables in your salad!
3- DNA. How and when was your love for the world of wine born? What do you like about them?
wine has always been around me since early on, my parents started collecting wine when they were my age. I was given a 12 bottle case of CHÁTEAU BATAILLEY – GRAND CRU CLASSE 1996 – PAUILLAC, BORDEAUX when I got baptized. There was always a bottle of wine on the table at home, still is today if not more now.
I fell in love with wine in September 2016 Vienna in Konstantin Filippou Bistrot O BOUFÉS where I had my first memorable bottle of wine a 2015 – CHRISTIAN TSCHIDA – SONJA – 100% CABERNET FRANC. From the moment The juice touched my lips I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. I was simply blown away, one of my first memorable moments of drinking fruity red wine. I still can’t forget the purity in the juice at the same time as it brought a structure! We ordered another bottle and after that another… A year later I had – LA SALADA- ROIG BOIG – FIELD BLEND (CONSISTING OF 11 DIFFERENT WHITE/ RED VARIETALS) and that was the tipping point, after this bottle I knew wine was something I wanted to surround myself in.
4- FASHION. What do you think of the “fashion” of natural wine in recent years, or are you one of those who refuse to use that adjective?
I don’t really care if people see it as trendy or not, Personally, I think that it is great that these wines are getting more and more attention. Natural wine isn’t just a product but it’s also an ideology and a belief. More and more people are waking up to the reality of industrial farming and its effect both on us and on our planet. We have to start realizing that using harmful chemicals like pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, Etcetera.. . Just isn’t Sustainable. It is polluting the environment, wreaking havoc on ecosystems, and killing the soils that feed us and if we continue like this in a near future we won’t be able to go back. Therefore I think it is important to introduce people to more sustainable products, so let’s keep the “fashion” going and growing ;)
5- NEXT. Before Mallorca, you have been to other countries related to the world of wine. How do you think the panorama of the world of natural and organic wine in Spain and Mallorca especially will be presented in the coming years?
I think that the Movement of Mallorcan Natural wines has really taken off in the last few years and we simply couldn’t be any happier! The year 2019 really brought some unexpected “bangers” for example the 2019 Malvasia From Avior, Great wine! In the last years, we’ve also seen an increase of producers that have emerging with the intention of bringing us wines made by local varieties and low intervention!
We have to give big appreciation to our local Heroes Jaumet, Eloi Cedo, Selva Vins, Señor Vino and especially VE D´AVIOR from Cati Ribot her project Son LLebre has really taken off, and I find that she is really changing the whole scene on the island! Turning more locals into drinking cleaner wines also bringing us back to the real expression of Mallorca.
During the year in Bar La Sang, we have seen a lot of visitors from importers, restaurant owners, chefs, and other winemakers from all over showing the local wines’ big interest, This is Great! The local and international market for Mallorcan Natural wines is growing and I believe we are gonna see more of these wines emerging in the coming years. There is also talk that when the covid-19 is over we are gonna see a lot of fairs and events taking place on our island!
6- HOME. La Sang has become a place of worship for wine lovers in Mallorca and there you have bottles from wineries from all over the world, where clients, friends, acquaintances meet … Was the initial idea, to turn that space into a social gathering place? Since you started your professional career – despite your youth – how has the world of wine evolved?
There will only be one Bar La Sang, the place already had soul and warmth when we found it. I am humbled to surround myself in this work environment every day and share my love and passion for the wines with other people from close or far. I think that is something I learned from working together with my parents who share the same love and passion for contemporary art and their work. If you don’t love what you do then I think you simply shouldn’t do it. You will never be able to create something special from forcing it on.
. I’m still learning and I wouldn’t call my career professional, I am still not a sommelier, I’m just a Nerd who loves wine. I had no bigger intention or a business ideology Behind creating Bar La Sang, All I wanted was to give Mallorca a rustic unpretentious environment to enjoy real authentic wine. That’s it.
7-.COLLECTION. In your place, we can find wines from very different wineries, all with very different origins: a walk through the wineries of Mallorca, France, Austria, Italy, Germany … What does a bottle of wine have to have for you to choose to serve it at Bar La Sang? What do they have to tell and how do they make you fall in love?
For me I Love when the wine has an attitude, be vibrant and expressive, I want a message in a bottle! I love when wines bring something different to the table… or when it’s a country/region or varietal that isn’t too well known, I like to be surprised by the wines. Vibrant and energetic wines that transfers happiness with the Drinkability and individuality.
We have a lot of people drinking wines by the glass in Bar la Sang, so our by the glass wine list we like to update constantly some times multiple times a week (simply for fun in it). I find this is one of the best ways to learn and try many different things! I want the people that come to be able to experience something Unique. Basically, I want to provoke you (if I can), you don’t always have to like the wine but I want you to at least try to understand them.
8-COVID. This pandemic is changing the rules of the game. Do you think it will be the end or reinvention of the great wine and B2B fairs? Or do you think it is a matter of time to return to the above?
Hopefully, only time will tell. But I hope we the return of “The Greats” literally can’t F* wait for them! but I’m also optimistic that there is gonna emerge some new kids on the block that is gonna bring something new and innovative that is gonna change the game even more! I say that we should stay excited about what the future holds in terms of wine fairs ;)
9- LUNDGREN WINES. How were Lundgren wines born, and when did you decide to settle in Palma de Mallorca? What added value does it have for an activity like Bar La Sang, does it have its own distribution company like yours?
We started Lundgren wines in July 2018 when the first pallets of wines made their way to the island. Before that, we had been buying ridiculous amounts of wine boxes and felt like it was time to put things into action since no distributor or stockist on the island really took natural wine seriously. We started Small with three producers 2Naturkinder, Nada Vandal wine, and Cantina Ribelá.
Over the years this number has increased today we are stocking wines from over 55 different producers all over Europe. Today Lundgren Wines is a Distribution here in Mallorca focused on Natural Wines, but also acting as a Storage store. We export wines to Sweden via private imports since the Monopoly in Sweden doesn’t stock a lot of natural wines. We are launching our web-shop that will make it easier for people to order wine
10- BAR LA SANG TOP. How to choose a single wine is difficult. Tell us which wine you recommend, a value for money that people enjoy at Bar La Sang, and the name of your favorite wine.
Well it’s not an easy question since we have over 400 different wines on our menu and I love them all in different ways and I also think our prices are more than fair, but, if I have to mention one it’s Puszta Libre from Claus Preisinger! An Austrian Wine from The Burgenland Region, made from Zweigelt and Saint Laurent two native varietals. A whole bunches carbonic maceration, Fermented spontaneously with native yeasts and aged in 3000-liter foudres. It is finally bottled without being filtered, clarified, or adding sulfur. this is a light and easy-going red wine with a creamy texture. It has proven itself one of our top sellers and it is easy to see just after one glass because that isn’t simply enough ;)
11-HIDDEN TIPS. Please tell us your most authentic favorites “hidden places” and “hidden gems” on the island of Mallorca to live a unique experience: Where to go, what to do, what to see.
Cellars Bar Randa One is of my favorite Sunday Restaurants of all time. Old-school Mallorquin food simply to die for. In our opinion their Tumbet is killer!
Thank you Lukas for Bar La Sang and for continuing to help us get to know more about the amazing wine world.
+ ICONOS HIDDEN
