Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker

Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker is a Malta based wine producer.

History

Emmanuel Delicata is Malta’s largest and oldest family run wine producer with V. George Delicata leading the firm. The company was established in 1907.
Internationally they have been acclaimed as being “one of the major influences on the Maltese wine industry” that has “brought modern technology and vineyard upgrading to the islands” that in turn has “revolutionised local growing methods in order to produce wine of international quality”. [Harpers Magazine, June 2000]
Today, Delicata is the largest family-owned winery in Malta.

Production

In the vineyard, Emmanuel Delicata took the lead in developing and implementing the ‘Vines for Wines’ project in 1994, in a collaborative effort with the farming community to plant more vineyards with international grape varieties. [The Independent Online [http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=20857] , accessed April 2007] ‘Vines for Wines’ still promotes sustainable practices which are environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially equitable. [The Independent Online [http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=20857] , accessed July 2008] The Delicata Winery also was the first winery in Malta to receive HACCP certification. Delicata’s internationally accredited modern winery, with its state of the art winemaking equipment and technology, is located on the waterfront overlooking the Grand Harbour of the nation's capital city Valletta.

Sales and Marketing

Through their marketing strategy, Delicata have been instrumental in introducing Maltese consumers to well-made, modern styled wines from international grape varieties. [Wines of Malta – The Essential Guide, Georges Meekers, Miller, Malta, 2007, ISBN-10: 9993286117 ] It is also thanks to Delicata that the two native or indigenous grape varieties, Gellewza and Girgentina, are still around today. With wine professional Georges Meekers at the helm as head of sales at the time of EU accession, Delicata went on competing with confidence in the face of the tidal wave of cheap imported wines flooding the country. [The International Herald Tribune, ‘With EU membership, Malta finds its wine industry under assault’, Conrad de Aenlle, 14th August 2004 [http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/14/malwine_ed3_.php ] ] Delicata have been the first to organise a national wine festival every year in the capital Valletta since 2002.

Wines

As well as using recently introduced grape varieties to the island like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Viognier, Zibibbo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, Carignan and Grenache, Delicata is also an ardent solitary supporter of the indigenous grape varieties of Malta, Girgentina and Gellewza [The Oxford Companion, Jancis Robinson, 3rd Edition] .

Political Influence

Delicata Winery have made significant contributions to the legal reform of the Maltese wine trade, especially in preparing the industry for the changes after EU accession and the introduction of Q.W.P.S.R. protocols. In 2007 a new Q.W.P.S.R. system was introduced on Malta and Gozo and all of Delicata’s 2007 vintage wines falling under their brand names: Gran Cavalier; Grand Vin de Hauteville; Victoria Heights; Medina; and The Maltese Falcon now have either D.O.K. Malta, D.O.K. Gozo, or I.G.T. Maltese Islands classifications.

Awards

Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker has amassed more awards for their wines than any other Maltese winery. The winery has been rewarded with over 70 international awards for their wines in the last few years, including Gold and Silvers in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Verona and London.

Notes

External links

[http://www.delicata.com Official Homepage Delicata]
[http://www.maltaqualitywines.com Ministry of Agriculture Portal]