Even though the volume of this year’s grape harvest for Camilleri Wines will be 50 per cent lower than last year’s, the 2007 vendemmia will amount to 550,000 kg with an excellent grape quality, said Camilleri Wines viticulturist Patrick Xerri yesterday.

Members of the media yesterday had the opportunity to visit one of the Camilleri Wines vineyards at Wied L-Isqof, limits of Siggiewi, and clumsily try their hand at grape picking – much to the amusement of vineyard owner Emmanuel Camilleri.

“Although this year’s harvest is going to be up to 50 per cent less than last year’s harvest in volume terms, it is a blessing in disguise since a lower production of grapes has been beneficial to the tired vines,” said Mr Xerri.

In fact, he added, the grape quality is excellent as all the vines’ strength has been channelled into a lower amount of grapes.

Mr Xerri outlined a number of factors that determined the outcome of this year’s vendemmia, including this year’s unusual weather conditions.

“Last year’s harvest yielded between 20 per cent and 30 per cent more grapes than this year. This bumper crop pre-conditioned the vines to a much needed uninterrupted dormancy period between late autumn and winter,” he said.

However, he added, the past winter was very mild and the tired vines, only semi-dormant, were forced to bud very early in the beginning of spring.

“To complicate matters, we experienced colder temperatures in early spring than winter itself with the occasional hailstorms and cold windy days. The early young tender vine shoots were adversely affected and fruit buds for Carbernet, Merlot and Chardonnay were reduced by up to 50 per cent,” said Mr Xerri.

The wine advisor of Camilleri Wines, Joséf Bonello pointed out that even though this year the Syrah variety will be the main harvested grape, less well known white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino and Viognier are steadily catching up.

“This year we have a special anticipation for the Viognier,” he said.

He also said that Camilleri Wines has high expectations for Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

“We are expecting some interesting results particularly from our Tempranillo, whose vines are reaching better maturity. But as always happens in this industry, we have to be very patient and wait for the first trickle of wines from this year’s vendemmia to fill our glasses,” said Mr Bonello.

However, he expressed confidence that their expectations would be fulfilled.

Mr Bonello explained how the winery is still waiting to harvest some of the Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier grapes which will be used to produce Camilleri Wines’ late harvest sweet dessert wine Dolce Vita.

Mr Xerri explained that two methods are used in order to increase the concentration of sugar for dessert wines.

“The grapes are either left on the vine and harvested later or else they are placed in a special room that helps to evaporate the water, making it sweeter. However, Camilleri Wines makes use of a technique that incorporates both methods,” he said.

Mr Xerri showed the journalists how the stalk connecting the grapes to the vine is pinched with clippers – allowing the grapes to dry out in the sun while they are still connected to the vines without receiving water from the plant.

“We need three times more grapes to produce the same amount of Dolce Vita as the other wines in our portfolio,” said Mr Bonello.