This year’s grape-quality from Camilleri Wines’ vendemmia was excellent, mainly due to the cooler temperatures throughout June, July and August, a company statement said. In fact, with very little irrigation required, grape maturity was slower and exceptional quality was by far registered especially on the white grape varieties.
“It has been a long, hard season for our vine growers, who tend their respective vineyards in various localities in Malta and Gozo. But this year, from fourteen different vine varieties grown on contract for Camilleri Wines, our growers succeeded in bringing in a total of 361 tonnes of grapes for processing,” explained Camilleri Wines’ viticulturist, Patrick Xerri,
The larger parts of Camilleri Wines’ vineyards are situated in Siggiewi and Zebbug in Malta, and in Kercem, Xaghra and Zebbug in Gozo, totally covering a total of 1,000 tumoli. Camilleri Wines is in constant communication with its contract vine growers to make sure that the highest quality product is achieved
“Grape harvesting was carried out late in the evenings, in cooler temperatures when dew had not settled on the grapes. Grape-pressing would then be carried out at our winery at five o’clock the following morning, a few hours later,” explained general manager at Camilleri Wines, Louie Camilleri.
“The harvesting dates for the whites were very crucial because we needed to have optimum sugar and acid content in the grape berries in order to obtain premium white wines of lasting quality. In fact, this year’s production figures were extremely encouraging where this year’s vendemmia for white varieties yielded a staggering 46 tonnes of Chardonnay, 18 tonnes of Sauvignon Blanc and over 60 tonnes of other experimental varieties”, Mr. Camilleri went on to say.
The figures recorded for the red wine varieties are equally overwhelming. A total of 60 tonnes of Merlot, 83 tonnes of Syrah, 15 tonnes of Grenache, 35 tonnes of Cabernet Sauvignon, five tonnes of Cabernet Franc, 35 tonnes of Carignan and six tonnes of Gellewza have been harvested this year.
“We waited for an extra 10 days to harvest the red varieties so as to obtain high grape sugar content coupled with a high phenols level. This will give our red wines a deep red colour, and superior quality with more than 12 per cent proof alcohol and a keeping quality for several years in the wine bottle,” explained Mr Xerri.
“The grapes that will produce Laurenti Chardonnay 2005 (to be released next year) and Laurenti Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (to be released in 2007) have now been picked. The Chardonnay grapes will be fermented in French oak barriques of medium toast whereas the red varieties will be aged in the barriques. The success of Laurenti has been a central factor in the development of Camilleri Wines and harvesting the grapes for our Laurenti range can only continue to satisfy all our efforts towards this important premium brand”, added Louie Camilleri.
Mr Camilleri added, “We take great care at all levels of the production process. In Gozo, each wine variety harvested from Gozitan yields was overseen by our personnel who crossed over to Gozo to weigh and transport the grapes back to Malta in refrigerated trucks. We are thrilled by the quality of Gozitan grapes, which resulted especially from the net-covered vineyards. More than half of our vineyards in Gozo are netted and are planning to help more growers to cover their vines next season and eliminate extensive grape damage caused by birds and wasps, once and for all. We believe that nets are the best solution to this problem, and given the circumstances, they are also the most environmental friendly solution.”
When one is made aware of the amount of hard work and dedication that goes into producing a fine bottle of wine, a glass of Laurenti, Palatino or ZigLand is furthermore appreciated. We raise a glass to all those who dedicate their time and energy to fine wine making.