This year’s grape harvest is under way, as Delicata starts to hand-pick some of its locally grown international white grapes. The first varieties to reach their optimum ripeness this year are the Sauvignon Blanc and the Chardonnay grapes from the Maltese vineyards. The same varieties growing in Gozo will be harvested about 10 days later.

Both I.G.T and D.O.K grapes are being harvested and following strict quality control procedures and Q.W.P.S.R. classification and selection back at the Delicata winery, they will be gently pressed, all within a few hours of being picked.

The 2011 vintage is generally low yielding and slightly later than previous years but the quality is very good. Other than a few days in mid-July, where temperatures exceeded 35 degrees centigrade, this year’s night and daytime temperatures, during the ripening period, were relatively cooler than in recent years. This will result in wines that are more fruit-driven with good refreshing levels of acidity.

Furthermore the 2011 vintage Delicata wines produced from these two grapes will therefore have more pronounced varietal characteristics, so typical to that variety.

Both varieties will undergo their fermentation process in state-of-the-art temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The Sauvignon Blanc will eventually be bottled as the Medina and Gran Cavalier wines, whereas the I.G.T. Chardonnay will produce The Maltese Falcon and become part of the blend in Pjazza Regina White.

The D.O.K. Malta Chardonnay will become Medina wines and some of the Chardonnay will eventually go into French oak barriques and after ageing become Grand Vin de Hauteville.

Some selected Chardonnay grapes will go straight into the barrique where it will be barrel fermented. This wine will eventually be released under the company’s flagship wine brand Gran Cavalier.

The next D.O.K. Malta white varieties to be harvested in about 12 to 18 days’ time will be Viognier, Moscato and Vermentino. The white indigenous grape variety Girgentina will be harvested at the beginning of September.