Compass Point and Villa Tritone are the two new private labels being used by the new wine company.

Trident Wine Company managing director Anthony Tabone said private label wines are becoming increasingly popular around the world as they offer the opportunity for companies to purchase only the best vintage from a particular region.

He said it also allows more control on the quality and style of the wine as grape suppliers know that they have no other option but to provide private label wine companies with their very best products.

Mr Tabone said Wands Limited and Anthony Caruana & Sons, two other subsidiary companies within the Farsons Group, have been importing fine wines for many years.

However, the Trident Wine Company will be carrying out a different type of business.

“We now have our own wine buyers who search from the best varieties and vintages from a number of regions and we have our own two labels. Our task is to provide the Maltese consumer and tourists good value quality wine at attractive prices.

“Both Villa Tritone and Compass Point are the Company’s own registered trade marks,” he said.

Mr Tabone continued: “This is a complex project. Year after year, the Trident Wine Company will be selecting only the best value wines from different parts of the world.

“It is also vital that these wines meet the high reputation for quality and excellence that Farsons has established throughout the last 75 years of its existence. For this purpose, Trident Wine Company has appointed Howard Price as its wines development manager.”

Mr Price, who has over 13 years of experience of wine buying and marketing for leading United Kingdom wine retailers, which include Sainsbury’s and Oddbins, had words of praise for the new wines.

The first wines in the Compass Point range for 2004 are the Compass Point Colombard Sauvignon Blanc (France), Compass Point Chardonnay (France), Compass Point Merlot (Chile), Compass Point Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo (Spain), Compass Point Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile), Compass Point Syrah (France), Compass Point Sauvignon Blanc (Chile). The are priced between Lm1.65 and Lm1.85.

The company also launched the Villa Tritone, a red and white wine from Argentina. This is an easy-to-drink quality wine priced at 95 cents per bottle.