Rural Affairs Minister urges wine producers to keep up Malta’s wine reputation

Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino this morning visited Marsovin's Wardija Valley Estate as the wine producer today kicked off its grape harvest for 2012.

Pullicino said that Marsovin has not only become an established name in Malta but has also managed to penetrate important international wine markets such as that of New Zealand and Holland.

Marsovin is also expecting to start exporting to the US and Canada by the end of this year. It already exports to China, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy and France.

In Malta, Pullicino said, two million wine bottles a year are produced, 90% of which carried DOK or IGT certificates.

"We must make sure that the exceptional reputation we built over the years is not tarnished. There's nothing worse than trying to build a reputation that is lost," Pullicino said.

He added that the audit and control system within the rural affairs ministry was being enforced to make sure that all producers abide to the law and regulations.

Following the police investigation into a Delicata DOK wine, the ministry also said that it was regularly monitoring the system to make sure that it is 100% effective.

Pullicino also said that laws and regulations were being scrutinised to make sure that any existent loopholes can be eliminated.

Marsovin Director Jeremy Cassar urged government to keep up the rigid controls on the production of Maltese Quality wines.

"It is only through the commitment of the producers and controls upheld of the Government that the Maltese wine sector will continue to grow," Cassar said.

The only Maltese wines that are used in the wine sector today are the D.O.K and I.G.T Malta and Gozo wines.

These wines are sealed with a banderole at the top of the bottle which proves that they have been certified as being such.

"We encourage all wine consumers to check their labels correctly to make sure that the wines have been certified as either D.O.K or I.G.T wines. Without the support of local consumers wineries such as Marsovin could not continue to invest in producing Maltese products of such high quality," Cassar added.

Cassar also pointed out that many Maltese consumers still prefer to choose foreign wines instead of local one. Acknowledging this, Pullicino said that an upcoming campaign in autumn among University students will seek to foster wine appreciation while also educating students on how to drink responsibly.

Marsovin harvests 1,200 tumoli of land under vine which compares to approximately the size of 200 full size football pitches.

"This not only contributes to a greener environment but also embellishes the Maltese Islands country side in the arid summer months," Cassar said.

Marsovin estimates the expected grape harvest for 2012 will be 15% more than last year.

"Marsovin is expecting to harvest approximately 1,000 tons of Grapes. This should once again account for over 50% of the total wine grape production of Malta and Gozo," he said.

Marsovin has been self sufficient for the past four years. Since 2009, Marsovin has only used Maltese Grapes to produce its wines.

"Marsovin made an investment in local farmers many years ago, even though the price paid for Maltese grapes is more expensive than most foreign grapes. This shows the commitment by Marsovin towards producing a genuine Maltese product," Cassar said.

The Chardonnay grapes grown at the estate's vineyard are one of the first to be harvested in Europe at this time of the year. 

The grapes will be used to produce Marsovin's Cassar de Malte - Brut 'Xampanja' and thus need to be picked early. This because levels of acidity would still be high. Aciditity is crucial for age maturation of quality sparkling wine.

The favourable warm climate of the Maltese Islands allows picking as early as July, whilst that other countries further north will have to wait till later in the summer for sugar levels to be of an acceptable level.