Maltese wine facts for kids
Wine has been made in Malta for over two thousand years! The ancient Phoenicians, who were great sailors, first brought winemaking to the islands.
In the early 1900s, two important wineries, Marsovin and Emmanuel Delicata, started making wine. By the 1970s, winemaking became more serious. People started planting international types of grapes, not just local ones.
When Malta joined the European Union in 2004, some rules changed. This helped Maltese wines become more known. Wines made in Malta can get a special "DOK" label. This label means the wine comes from a specific place in Malta and meets certain quality rules.
Because Malta is a small island, there isn't a lot of land for growing grapes. Sometimes, wineries have to use grapes from other countries. But many still use local grapes!
A fun wine festival is held every year in Valletta, the capital city. In 2005, Malta produced about 630 tonnes of wine. That's a lot of grapes!
Types of Maltese Wine
Today, winemakers in Malta grow different kinds of grapes. They use two special local grapes:
- Ġellewża is a red grape.
- Girgentina is a white grape.
They also grow many international grapes that you might know.
One special wine is Marsovin's Cassar de Malte. This is a traditional Maltese sparkling wine. It's made using the same special method as Champagne from France. This method creates all the tiny bubbles!
Special Labels for Maltese Wine
In Malta, wines can get special labels called DOK and IĠT. These are part of a system used across the European Union. These labels tell you where the wine comes from and that it meets certain quality standards. It's like a special stamp of approval!
- DOK stands for Denominazzjoni ta’ Oriġini Kontrollata. This means "Protected Designation of Origin." It's for wines from a very specific area.
- IĠT stands for Indikazzjoni Ġeografika Tipika. This means "Protected Geographical Indication." It's for wines from a wider area.
As of 2021, three Maltese wines have these special labels:
- Malta or "of Malta" is a DOK wine. It comes from the island of Malta itself. It must be made and bottled there.
- Gozo or "of Gozo" (in Maltese: Għawdex or "Ta' Għawdex") is also a DOK wine. It comes from Malta's sister island, Gozo. The rules for making it are very similar to the "Malta" DOK wine.
- Maltese Islands or "of the Maltese Islands" is an IĠT wine. This wine can come from any of the Maltese islands. It has slightly more relaxed rules than the DOK wines.
Maltese Wineries
There are five main wine producers on the island of Malta:
- Marsovin
- Emmanuel Delicata
- Camilleri Wines
- Montekristo
- Meridiana
Delicata and Marsovin are the oldest, starting in 1907 and 1919. Both are located near Paola. Meridiana started in 1987. The other two wineries began in the 2000s. This was a time when Maltese viticulture (grape growing for wine) really improved its quality.
On Gozo, you can find two other wineries:
- Ta' Mena Winery, which makes both IĠT and DOK wines.
- Tal-Massar Winery.
Qormi Wine Festival
The Qormi Wine Festival is a fun event held in Qormi, Malta. It takes place in the first week of September every year since 2005. The festival is organized by Kumitat Festi Esterni.
This free, two-day event happens in the streets of Qormi, right in front of St. George's Parish Church. It includes many activities and promotions from all over the island. During the festival, you can enjoy five different exhibitions. These include displays of wine, paintings, photos, flowers, and even historical treasures found in Qormi. It's a great way to learn about Maltese culture and wine!
