Camilleri Wines have launched the 2005 vintage of Palatino wines – one white and four reds – produced from grapes entirely grown and harvested from Maltese vines marking an important milestone for the winery in its quest to have all its wines produced entirely from Maltese grapes – a goal which is now reached with the release of this latest vintage.

This is the first time that the Palatino range is being entirely produced from Maltese vines and thus joining Zigland and Laurenti, the two other wine ranges in the Camilleri Wines portfolio that are also marked by this pure Maltese pedigree.

The new Palatino image and the five Palatino varieties namely, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo were released at Del Borgo wine bar in Vittoriosa during their launch for members of the press and other guests.

The launch of the new 2005 vintage of Palatino wines was addressed by Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino. In his address, Minister Pullicino commended Camilleri Wines for their commitment in producing genuinely Maltese products and in instilling a sense of pride amongst customers to consume locally produced products. “It is crucial that we not only protect the locally produced products but also that we seek to create new opportunities to market and promote these products amongst new potential markets. In this regard, it is my pleasure to announce that we are close to setting up a national commission for the promotion of local produce and products. This Commission will be responsible to identify marketing opportunities through which to promote local produce collectively and in a way that truly reflects the character and unique traits of our Maltese culinary tradition.”

Addressing the launch, general manager of Camilleri Wines, Louie Camilleri, said: “this is a very important milestone for our company and we are proud and honoured to be launching a brand new Palatino range of wines, a range that as from this year can truly be recognised as totally genuine Maltese. We also wanted to demonstrate this pride on the respective labels with the Maltese phrase “Inbid Malti maghmul minn gheneb imkabbar f’Malta.”

The Palatino range is now a pure expression of Maltese character. The wines are produced from grapes harvested from vines grown in the typical calcareous, white soils of the south-western regions of Malta that are ideally suited for Mediterranean vine-growing. This contributes to the unique taste that characterizes the Palatino range.