2015 Vermentino Pressed

(1) Fresh Vermentino Grapes (2) Classic Collection Landini Vermentino (3) Medina Vermentino Zibibbo

Earlier this week here at the Delicata winery we pressed approximately 54,000 kilos of Vermentino, one of the last international white grapes to be picked in Malta from the 2015 harvest. This outstanding white grape variety is used in our award winning Classic Collection Landini Vermentino and in our Medina D.O.K. Malta range where we blend it with the aromatic Zibibbo grape variety, resulting in a unique dry white Medina Vermentino Zibibbo blend. Occasionally it is used in our  Pjazza Regina white blend as well, depending on the vintage. Also pressed last week were Viognier grapes which we use exclusively in our award winning premium white wine brand, Grand Vin de Hauteville.

Vermentino has only been around in Malta for a few years but its quickly gaining respect and popularity. It grows well in our hot Mediterranean climate and is naturally late ripening, but this year the grapes were harvested particularly late, some 10 days later than last year. The 2015 grapes were darker in colour than in recent years (more amber) and slightly riper, although importantly they retained their acidity levels. Yields were also slightly up on last year and the grapes themselves were fuller flavoured and more aromatic.

Retaining the acidity in a ripened white grape variety in a hot climate winemaking country like Malta is essential if the finished wine is to be crisp and refreshing, something most consumers quite rightly come to expect in a dry white wine. And Vermentino is recognized for this trait as mentioned by leading wine expert Jancis Robinson MW who said of the variety “I can quite see the appeal of young Vermentinos, virtually all of which exhibit the racy, citrus, often mineral and sometimes marine character of refreshing dry wine, usually un-oaked and moderate in alcohol. This is a quintessentially Mediterranean grape variety, retaining its acidity well even in relatively warm regions”.

The resulting Maltese Vermentino wines  are at present something of an undiscovered gem; they are all aromatic, full flavoured and slightly spicy. When they are young they are fresh, fruity and quite floral but after a couple of years in bottle they develop into  much fatter, fuller flavoured wines with bags of character and finesse. Eventually this variety will without doubt become one of our islands viticultural jewels. Maltese Vermentino also produces wines that are great with food, especially shellfish platters, crisp summer salads and oriental food, in particular Thai cuisine and Sushi.

Another independent tribute for the Maltese Vermentino came from Stuart Walton, author of The Worlds Encyclopedia of Wine, following a visit and tasting at the Delicata winery a few years ago where he said “a strikingly aromatic Medina Vermentino – Zibibbo blend is full of jasmine and apple, with nipping, delicate acidity”.

The remaining white varieties still to be pressed by Delicata from this year’s harvest are the Moscato (Zibibbo) and Malta’s indigenous grape, Girgentina.