Ġbejna Friendly Wines
Ġbejna, the cheeselet of the Maltese Islands, traditionally made from sheep or goat milk, salt and rennet, is staple diet in Malta and Gozo. However, because of its special personality, it’s often left unpaired with a nice glass of wine. But if the great Italian and French cheeses go so well with their native wines, […]
Post-Vintage Vine Care
Albeit in dribs and drabs, rain has finally come after a long, extended period of drought that resulted in a below average tonnage of otherwise very healthy wine grapes harvested this past summer. The precipitation arrives in time so that the vines can replenish themselves before going into dormancy to get strong again for the […]
You Say Varietal, I Say Variety
Rummaging through the pages of a keepsake wine list of a long-forgotten Maltese restaurant with a three-colour charcoal drawing on the cover of a bottle of Pommard next to a pair of vermouth glasses, I realise how wine preferences have changed. Judging by the vintages and prices, the faded list must be about 50 years […]
Red Wine Molecules may Slow Down Alzheimer’s
Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in red wine, has been mentioned for years for its apparent powers to prolong life and protect against a range of ailments. Previously, clinical trials had found that resveratrol in tablet form, containing concentrated amounts to quantities found in 1000 bottles of red wine, slows down Alzheimer’s symptoms in patients […]
The Flavour of Barbie Pink
Tasting wine drawn from tank just days or weeks after the grapes were crushed to a juicy mush is pretty much like watching a football team warm up. At this early stage, the new wine has yet to become a truly united outfit. The fruit, tannin, acidity, flavour and aroma are still separate ingredients, acting […]
