Delicata’s free-run hit with Archer

English wine tutor and international wine challenge judge Graham Archer visited the Delicata premises earlier this week. His call coincided with the pressing of around 30000 kilos of Maltese Sauvignon Blanc grapes, all hand-picked and crushed on Tuesday 6 August 2013 at the Delicata winery.

Mr. Archer was noticeably impressed with the transformation the Delicata winery has undergone since the last time he visited Delicata some eight years ago.

In the last five years the winery has renewed its pledge to modern winemaking and invested heavily in today’s state-of-the-art fermentation hall and grape receiving bay which surpass winemaking facilities found in many European countries and beyond.

In the last 18 months alone over 30 new stainless steel fermentation tanks have been installed including a few famed technologically advanced Ganimede fermenters.

After tasting the Sauvignon Blanc juice directly from the Willmes press Mr. Archer also assessed the fermenting Chardonnay must pressed four days previously with Managing Director V. George Delicata.

Mr. Delicata described in detail the benefits of all the recently installed new technology and the noticeable effect it has on the quality of the extracted grape juice. The Chardonnay must they tasted was the free-run Chardonnay (this is the very best quality of juice extracted as it is removed from the grapes without pressing) that will eventually go into the making of Delicata’s premium, medal-winning wine brands Gran Cavalier and Grand Vin de Hauteville.

Mr. Delicata went on to explain the importance of the ‘hands-on’ approach by the Delicata family when it comes to the winemaking process. Mr. Archer was introduced to the Delicata brothers Mario, Michael and Matthew whom are all three involved on a daily basis in the company’s business of crafting Maltese wine.

“The fact that we are Malta’s independent fourth-generation and family-run winery is very important to us.” Mr. Delicata said. “The Delicata family has been making Maltese wines for over 100 years and we are proud that Delicata’s wines are truly family wines, every step of the way. From the 380 farming families that grow our grapes to us, the Delicata family who turn them into wine, and finally to all the many families who consume them”.