Many wine countries and regions are known for a particular grape variety or wine which conveniently serves as its vinous signature, luring customers to the wider national wine category on overcrowded retail shelves. Classic examples are champagne from France, Riesling from Germany, Pinot Grigio from Italy, Rioja from Spain. More recently, other portmanteau varieties have … Read More
Malta
Old Vines Tales
Conventional wisdom has it that well-balanced, healthy older vines, with their roots firmly in the soil and with grape yield kept in check, produce the best fruit. Deep down there seems to be some dirty realism to this supremacy of ‘old vines’, a term which has roots, so to speak. But has it really?
Con or Concours
If you were really a member of the wine elite, you’d know this already: wine competitions are ruled by a powerful, secretive few or the so-called ‘concours illuminati’. They are a cadre of wine wonks with the sole mission of publishing fake wine awards, a fraternity plotting against consumers on behalf of a united council of … Read More
Malta's High-Flying Wines
With over 100 award-winning Maltese wines to choose from, picking the right high-flying wine for Malta’s national airliner’s cabin crew to serve on board would appear to be an easy task. However, such a selection process involves the professional help of catering consultants as well as wine experts who take into account the surprisingly unusual … Read More
Ġellewesome
There is something awesome about well-made red Ġellewża, that rare grape variety native to Malta, the tiniest wine producing country in the world located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. For long many a doubting Thomas thought it couldn’t be done. Many Maltese of the older generation still do of course. But, because they remember … Read More