Heavy rainfall in February has saved this year’s wine harvest after two successive years of poor yields, according to the island’s largest winemakers.
Marsovin CEO Jeremy Cassar said that although the last autumn and winter were initially very dry, “lifesaving” rainfall of 181 millimetres during February had resulted in an increased yield - back up to average - on most international grape varieties and the indigenous Girgentina and Ġellewża.
This follows a staggering 25 per cent drop in yield after a record-breaking dry spell in 2016, with the harvest picking up only slightly in 2017 after another year of low rainfall and blazing heatwaves.
Speaking at the Marnisi estate in Marsaxlokk on Thursday, Mr Cassar said this year’s mild summer temperatures had resulted in a very slow and gradual grape maturity, which should result in complex, well-balanced aromatic wines.
However, the southern winds and high humidity throughout most of July and the beginning of August, as well as unusual summer rainfall, resulted in some grape rot on the most susceptible varieties.
Mr Cassar also reiterated concerns over the Maltese industry, warning that without greater incentives for farming and wine growing, the sector risks losing its self-sufficiency in the near future.
"With the average age of farmers leaning toward the mid-fifties, Malta risks being in a desperate situation unless the right incentives are given to support the vine growing sector,” Mr Cassar said. “Malta needs to invest in its local farmers to protect its self-sufficiency as a country. If steps are not taken Malta could face a very serious situation within the next 5 to 10 years."
Meanwhile, Mr Cassar said next year would see the planting of some 50,000 new Girgentina and Ġellewża vines. The vines, currently being grown in a nursery, will compensate for the loss of some 35 per cent of the indigenous vines announced by Marsovin in 2016 due to poor weather conditions.
Marsovin to launch organic wine
Marsovin will this year be launching its first organic wine - entering a market which is growing at a rapid pace internationally - after years of observations.
“Due to the nature of Marsovin’s vineyards, and climatic conditions, this was no easy task,” Mr Cassar said. “While disease control in organic viticulture is limited to the use of only natural products, one must still ensure that the grapes are kept in a good healthy state.”
Disease prevention, he explained, would be managed by limiting the vegetative growth to allow enough air circulation around the grape bunches, reducing excessive humidity. At the early signs of particular diseases, vines would be treated with natural products.
The organic approach would also limit the use of commercial fertilisers, sticking instead to natural manure or fertilisers derived from it.
