Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker is the only Maltese winery to win at the 2019 Emozioni dal Mondo Merlot e Cabernet Insieme wine competition in Bergamo, Italy. Delicata bagged two gold medals and the press prize.

The first gold medal went to the outstanding 2017 vintage of Gran Cavalier Merlot, DOK Malta, Superior.

This garnet red wine of distinction is full-bodied and packed with fruit flavours. It surprises with that pleasurable dusty and faintly savoury Maltese hallmark to it.

When handled by a skilful winemaker like Matthew Delicata, locally-grown Cabernet Sauvignon too can reach heights beyond expectations.

In fact, Delicata’s 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon DOK Malta Superior in the winery’s Grand Vin de Hauteville collection too amassed a gold medal as well as the press prize at the same international competition.

This barrique-matured, robust Malta-grown Cabernet Sauvignon entices with a sweet and fruity nose and a rich palate filled with light black fruits and true classical varietal character, derived from selected hand-picked grapes and sorted berries.

The Emozioni dal Mondo Merlot e Cabernet Insieme contest is organised by the Vignaioli Bergamaschi S.C.A.  It specifically reviews only wines made from the three red-skinned grape varieties Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and is governed by the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV).

The Premio Della Stampa  or Press Prize is a special award commended by a special commission of wine journalists to a country’s highest scoring gold medal winning wine.

Eighty-one wine judges from around the world made up the judging panels of this year’s 15th edition of the competition and between them they evaluated 256 samples produced in 27 different countries.

The Gran Cavalier and Grand Vin de Hauteville roll of honour is unrivalled in Malta. These boutique wines just keep on winning on the world stage. They have already won several awards, including gold in Bordeaux, the spiritual home of Merlot and Cabernet.

Georges Meekers is Delicata’s head of marketing and an award-winning wine writer.

Follow Janis, the rescued sea turtle

Janis, the rescued loggerhead turtle nursed back to health by the dedicated wildlife team at Nature Trust – FEE Malta, was released 10 days ago at Ġnejna Bay. The infographic shows how far she has travelled since then.

Her journey is being mapped thanks to the transmitter on her back which was sponsored by Delicata through the winery’s Delicata for Good initiative.

If you are curious to see where Janis is going next, follow this column or Delicata’s Facebook page.