Marsovin’s chief oenologist and technical manager Philip Tonna was invited by The International Wine Challenge in London to participate in “the biggest and most respected blind wine-tasting competition in the world”, that takes place annually over a period of two weeks (24 April – 5 May) at the Barbican Centre in London.

Mr Tonna was a member of the judging panel that brings together many of the most respected and experienced people in the wine world to establish the best quality wines from all over the world through a rigorous judging process, where each wine is tasted up to four times before a medal is awarded.

He has been a wine-tasting judge in several other international wine-tasting competitions in the past, including the (Civart) Challenge International du Vin in Bordeaux, and the Chardonnay du Monde in Burgundy.

Mr Tonna, who has been the head of the oenlogical department of Marsovin for 18 years, obtained his Diplome Nationale D’Oenologue in 1988 and has been a pioneer in Maltese wine-making ever since.

He is responsible for the production of various award-winning wines, including Malta’s first quality sparkling wine, Cassar de Malte, which was awarded a silver medal by Effervescent du Monde last December, as well as Malta’s most prestigious premium wine, Marsovin’s Grand Maitre.