THE MALTESE WINE SECTOR: A FOCUS ON
QUALITY WINES
Green Paper
MINISTRY FOR RESOURCES
AND RURAL AFFAIRS
April 2012
01. BACKGROUND:
MALTESE QUALITY WINE
AND ESTATE WINES
The Maltese Wine Market – Focus on
Quality Wines
In the Maltese Islands, there are currently sixteen registered
commercial wine producers: eleven wineries are located in Malta,
whereas five wineries are found in Gozo. Of these sixteen
wineries, ten wineries are registered for the production of
“Quality Wines”, whereas six are registered for the production of
“Table Wines”.
Quality wines include wines having a PDO
denomination, i.e. a Protected Denomination
of Origin and wines having a PGI
denomination, i.e. a Protected Geographical
Indication.
Both categories of wines are classified as
“Quality Wines Produced in a Specified
Region” (QWPSR).
Quality Wines are produced from grapes grown solely on the
islands of Malta and Gozo, respecting the highest of quality
standards. Grapes, from which PDO and PGI wines are produced,
are cultivated under strict conditions. There are, for instance,
limits on the amount of grapes produced per hectare. Lower
yields are favoured so as to guarantee that the grapes mature
uniformally and are rich in sugars and aromas. In order to
produce Quality Wines, the grapes must also respect other
parameters, such as a minimum contrentration of sugars, below
which these grapes cannot be used to produce Quality Wines.
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
In the Maltese Islands, quality wines having
a PDO denomination are labelled as DOK
wines, i.e., wines with a “Denomination of
Controlled Origin” or “Denominazzjoni ta’ lOriġini Kontrollata” in Maltese.
red wine grape varieties Syrah, Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot.
However, wines are increasingly being produced also from local
Maltese grape varieties: the white variety Girgentina and the red
variety Ġellewża. These are either blended with other
international wine grape varieties or else used exclusively to
produce what are known as “single variety” or “varietal wines” in
which Girgentina or Ġellewża make up 100% of the wine.
Quality Wines having a PGI denomination
are labelled as IĠT wines, i.e., wines with a
“Typical
Geographical
Indication”
or
“Indikazzjoni Ġeografika Tipika” in Maltese.
In 2010, the total production of wine (i.e. Quality Wine and Table
Wine) from grapes cultivated in Malta and Gozo amounted to
15,340 hectolitres (hL). Of these 7,282 hL of DOK wines and
6,640 hL of IĠT wines were produced in the Maltese Islands
from a total of 1,981 tonnes of grapes (figure 1 and figure 2).
This is equivalent to 971,000 and 885,000 bottles of wine
respectively. The production of Quality Wines (i.e. DOK and
IĠT wines) in 2010, thus amounted to 91% of the total
production of wines in our islands.
The production of Quality Wines in the Maltese Islands was
never so high. In 2007, i.e. just 4 years ago, the production of
Quality Wines amounted to just 36% of the total production of
wine in the Maltese Islands. This strong increase in the
production of Quality Wines in the Maltese Islands over just a
few years is evidence that the consumer is constantly seeking
wines that are of a high quality and are aware that the
denominations DOK and IĠT on wine labels are a guarantee of
the quality of the wine.
Quality Wines, which are produced in the
Maltese Islands are produced from grapes that
are cultivated in Malta and Gozo.
DOK
IGT
Table wine
Figure 1: Production of wine from local
grapes during the 2010-2011 wine campaign
Girgentina and Ġellewża are indigenous grape varieties which are
particular to the Maltese Islands and are not found in any other
wine-producing country. They are thus purely Maltese and
therefore add unique character to local wines, distinguishing them
from wines produced in other countries. The increasing presence
on the market of Quality Wines, produced from our local wine
grape varieties, such as Girgentina and Ġellewża, is proof that the
consumer is specifically seeking wines that are produced from
local wine grape varieties.
Quality Wines
The wine grape varieties, from which these Quality Wines are
produced, are mostly international varieties, such as the white
wine grape varieties Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc and the
DOK and IĠT wines are Quality Wines that are easily identified
by the presence of a “collar label” or “banderole”. This is pale
green in colour for IĠT wines and yellow for DOK wines. Both
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are made from a security paper that is marked with the initials of
the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs (MRRA), which
may be easily viewed under UV light.
DOK wines are split into two main categories:
DOK “Malta” and DOK “Gozo”.
DOK “Malta” wines can only be produced from grapes grown on
the island of Malta whereas DOK “Gozo” wines can only be
produced from grapes grown on the island of Gozo. Both
denominations of origin are reserved for red, white and rosé
wines, as well as varietal wines, i.e. Quality Wines produced
from grapes of a single wine grape variety.
Red and rose'
White
Figure 2: Production of red, rose and white
wine in the Maltese Islands during the 20102011 wine campaign (figures comprise
values for DOK, IGT and table wines)
Banderoles are issued to wineries by the Viticulture and
Oenology Unit within the Agricultural Directorate, as proof of
quality of these wines. The presence of the banderole means that
the wines have been produced under strict conditions in order to
guarantee a high degree of quality to the consumer.
The production of DOK and IĠT wines in the Maltese Islands is
regulated by the “DOK Wines Production Protocols Regulations,
2007” (Legal Notice (L.N.) 416 of 2007) and “IĠT Wines
Production Protocols Regulations, 2007” (Legal Notice 167 of
2007), both issued under the “Wine Act, 2002” (CAP 436). These
regulations lay down the definitions and technical specifications
of the DOK and IĠT wines, respectively, and all the quality
parameters that must be respected during their production, in
order to classify as such wines.
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
respectively for red wines for all wine grape varieties, except for
the local Girgentina and Ġellewża. For these two local wine
grape varieties, the minimum natural alcoholic strength should
not be inferior to 9.5%. In addition, for the Ġellewża variety, the
minimum total alcoholic strength should not be inferior to 10.5%.
These values are lower for Girgentina and Ġellewża because
these two varieties are known to reach a lower sugar
concentration at harvest and thus give lower alcohol wines. These
limits ensure that the grapes that are harvested for the production
of IĠT wines reach an optimum quality at harvest.
Regulation 3 of L.N. 416 of 2007, lists the wine grape varieties
from which DOK wines can be produced. This list includes both
international and local red and white wine grape varieties.
Regulation 5 of the same legislation lists the maximum
production of wine per hectare of vineyard, which is allowed for
the production of DOK wines, as well as the minimum natural
alcoholic strength, which the grapes must possess in order to be
suitable for the production of DOK wines. The restrictions ensure
that only grapes of the highest quality are used in the production
of DOK wines. The limits on minimum natural alcoholic strength
ensures that at harvest, the grapes are rich in sugars and have thus
reached the proper stage of maturity before they are harvested.
On the other hand, IGT wines make up a
single category, i.e. IGT “Maltese Islands”.
IGT “Maltese Islands” is reserved for red, white and rosé wines,
as well as varietal wines, which have been produced from grapes
grown on the islands of Malta and Gozo. These wines may be
produced from the wine grape varieties that are listed in the
“Classification of Vine Varieties (Production of Wine Grapes)
Regulations, 2006” (L.N. 188 of 2006). This list includes
international and local red and white wine grape varieties.
In order to classify as IĠT wines, the production in hL/hectare of
vineyard must not exceed 125 hL/Ha for white and rosé wines
and 120 hL/Ha for red wines. In addition, L.N. 167 of 2007 sets
limits on the minimum natural and total alcoholic strengths for
grapes, for the production of IGT wines: 10.0% and 10.5%
repectively for white and rosé wines and 10.5% and 11.0%
Figure 3: A vineyard for the production of Quality
Wine located in central Malta
Apart from DOK and IĠT wines, which are classified as Quality
Wines, another category of wine exists. This comprises Table
Wines, which are wines that are produced from grapes that can be
cultivated in the Maltese Islands or else in other countries in the
EU and also in third countries. The grapes that are cultivated for
the production of Table Wines are not required to satisfy the
quality parameters that are reserved for Quality Wines and in
addition, the yield of grapes per hectare of vineyard tends to be
much higher than the yields that are permitted for Quality Wines.
In the hierarchy of wines, DOK wines are found at the top,
because there are stricter parameters, which the vine grower and
winemaker must respect in order to produce a wine which merits
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the DOK denomination. These stricter limits are set to ensure that
a DOK wine is of the highest quality. These wines are followed
by IĠT wines in the hierarchy of wine classification. However,
this does not mean that IĠT wines are of an inferior quality. In
order to produce a wine that classifies for IĠT, the vine grower
and the winemaker must still respect all the parameters that
guarantee that the wine is of the highest of quality, but the yields
per hectare for IĠT wines are higher than those for DOK wines.
On the other hand, Table Wines are commercial wines, which are
sold on the market at a more competitive price since they are
produced from grapes, which are cultivated under less stringent
regulations and much higher yields of grapes per vine are
permitted. The quality of DOK and IĠT wines is therefore far
superior to that of Table Wines, and the latter are found at the
bottom of the hierarchy in the classification of wines.
Table
Wines
IĠT
Wines
DOK
Wines
dictate that a DOK wine must be sold at a higher price that an
IĠT wine as this is a factor which is determined also by the
market, the brand and the policy of the winemaker who is
producing the wine.
The objective of the winemaker, who produces a DOK or an IĠT
wine, is to give a pleasurable sensation to the consumer and a
guarantee of quality that will induce the consumer to purchase the
wine again. Here, the experience of the winery plays an important
role: to offer the consumer a product without defects that will
induce him/her to buy the wine again. The objective of the vine
grower, on the other hand, is to produce the highest production of
grapes at the highest quality possible.
The banderole that distinguishes DOK and
IĠT wines from table wines is therefore a
guarantee of quality of the product and also
of its traceability (that is, one can trace the
wine back to the vineyard, where the grapes
where harvested).
Special Wine Mentions under L.N. 416
of 2007
L.N. 416 of 2007 provides for special wine mentions, which are
reserved for particular wines that comply with specific requisites
that are laid out in the same Regulations. These special mentions
are “Superior”, “Riżerva” and “Estate”.
DOK “Superior” wines are produced from selected wine grapes
that possess an exceptionally high sugar concentration. This high
sugar concentration results in wines with a considerable alcoholic
strength. In order to classify as DOK “Superior” wines, the white
and rosé typologies must possess a minimum natural alcoholic
strength and a minimum total alcoholic strength at consumption
of 12.0% vol. whereas the red typology must possess a minimum
natural alcoholic strength and a minimum total alcoholic strength
at consumption of 12.5% vol.
Q.W.P.S.R.
However, the consumer is still unaware of
the quality and added value of these
products in comparison to table wines.
Increasing in quality
Figure 4: Hierarchy of wine classification
The quality of a DOK wine is higher than that of an IĠT wine
because production of a DOK wine requires greater input and
effort from the vine grower to produce wine grapes of a
qualitative level that is superior. Thus, wine grapes which classify
as DOK will have to respect higher quality parameters, such as a
higher sugar concentration. Nothwithstanding, this does not
necessarily mean that DOK wines are better tasting than IĠT
wines, as the flavour and aromas of the wine are quite subjective
and these characteristics also depend on the ability of the
winemaker who produces the wine. However, this does not
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
In addition, recognition should be given to vine growers who
give a higher input to their vineyards in order to produce wine
grapes of a higher quality. One way of how this may be done is to
establish minimum guaranteed prices for different classes of wine
grapes (i.e. wine grapes destined for the production of table
wines, IĠT wines, DOK wines and DOK superior wines). This
practice is currently being implemented by the larger wineries,
but further action is required to ensure that the vine grower’s
efforts are recognised.
DOK
“Superior”
DOK
wines
IĠT
wines
DOK
“Riżerva”
DOK
“Estate”
Figure 5: Classification
(Q.W.P.S.R)
of
Quality
Wines
These wines, may classify as DOK “Riżerva “ wines if, in
addition to complying with the above specifications for minimum
natural and minimum total alcoholic strengths, the wines have
also undergone a specific period of ageing in wooden barrels
(barriques) or in the bottle, before being placed on the market.
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Thus, in addition to possessing a minimum natural alcoholic
strength and a minimum total alcoholic strength at consumption
of 12.0% vol., white and rosé wines must also:
1.
have been aged for a minimum of six months in the bottle
before commercialisation and
2.
not be released on the market until 24 months have elapsed
from the 1st September of the vintage year.
Red wines, must possess a minimum natural alcoholic strength
and a minimum total alcoholic strength of 12.5% vol. and in
addition, must:
1.
have been aged for a minimum of 12 months in barrique;
2.
have been aged for a minimum of 6 months in the bottle
before commercialisation, and;
3.
not be released on the market until 24 months have elapsed
from the 1st September of the vintage year.
Estate Wines are a particular category of
Quality Wines that are produced from wine
grapes of a very high quality.
What distinguishes these wines from other
quality wines is that they can only be
produced from wine grapes that are
cultivated in the vineyards that are managed
by the winery itself.
By cultivating their own vines, estate wineries have full control
on the entire process from the cultivation of the grapes to the
finished wine product. In addition, the grapes are processed into
wine in a short time after they have been harvested, in order to
preserve the quality characteristics of the grapes.
The high quality of the grapes is a result of special measures
thatare taken in the vineyard to control the yield of grapes in the
vineyard, in order to preserve their characteristics and ensure that
they are rich in sugars, possess good acidity and an intense colour
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
at maturity. However, these measures require more time and costs
from the part of the winery. As a result, the cost of an Estate
Wine is higher than that of other Quality Wines. This higher price
on the market reflects the intensive work that is carried out in the
vineyards, in order to produce wine grapes of such a high level of
quality.
IĠT and DOK wines (including “Superior”, Rizerva” and
“Estate” wines) are all quality wines that are produced under the
strictest of regulations in order to ensure that these wines respect
all food safety standards and are produced from high quality
grapes. However, in the production of Estate Wines, the winery
controls the entire process of production, from the cultivation of
the grapes, all the way to the finished product, that is, the bottled
wine.
hand, a small winery has an interest in producing a limited
number of wines that are of exceptional quality and are produced
from grapes that are cultivated in their own vineyards, using the
strictest quality parameters.
In recent years, several small wineries as well
as larger, more established wineries, have
invested in the production of Estate Wines.
The aim of these small wineries is to produce superior Quality
Wines that are characteristic of the territory of the Maltese
Islands. These winemakers do not only target a national market
but also an international one. They believe that the future of
Maltese viticulture lies in the production of Maltese Quality
Wines aimed at a small niche market.
At present, even though several wineries are
producing Estate Wines of a very high quality,
these products require further valorisation
since these wines are still not yet fully known
and appreciated by the consumer.
The Production of Estate Wines
Estate Wines should be distinguished on the basis of how they
are produced and not because they are produced by specific
wineries. These wines may be produced from wineries that are
well-established as well as from those wineries that have only
recently entered production.
A large winery may, however, produce a range of different wines.
These may range from Table Wines that are sold at a competitive
price and are produced as an accompaniment to everyday meals,
to Quality Wines that are more complex and of higher quality and
thus generally reserved for more special occasions, being sold at
a higher price. A large winery may produce such diverse wines as
long as the quality parameters that are laid out in the national and
European Community legislation are respected. On the other
Figure 6: Example of an Estate Winery
The production of commercial Table Wines that are sold on the
market at a competitive price is not viable in the Maltese Islands,
due to the high labour costs and the small size of the vineyards.
Wineries in Malta and Gozo are becoming more conscious of this
fact. Consequently, the number of Quality Wines that are being
produced in the Maltese Islands has increased greatly in
comparison to more commercial Table Wines.
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Concept of Yield
Quality Wines
per
Hectare
for
When production of grapes in the vineyard is too high, the grapes
may not undergo proper maturation, leading to grapes that
qualitatively do not meet the quality parameters that are required
for the production of Quality Wines. There are many practices
that can be carried out by the vine grower in the vineyard, in
order to control production,. One such practice is the “green
harvest” of grape bunches, which is carried out when the number
of grape bunches per vine is too high and it can result in the
grapes not maturing properly. Here, the excess grape bunches are
removed from the vine before they reach maturity. As a result,
the grape bunches that are left on the vine develop uniformly and
become rich in sugar and in colour. This practice contributes to
controlling the yield of grapes per vine, such that only grapes of a
high quality are produced.
Figure 7: Another vineyard used in the production
of Estate Wines
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
In order to improve Estate Wines further, it is
essential that the quality of the grapes is
based on the yield (expressed as hL or
tonnes) per hectare of vineyard and not per
vine.
Such practices are employed in the production of Estate Wines to
ensure that the best grapes are produced. They may also be
employed in the production of other Quality Wines as the
decision to carry out any of these practices is at the discretion of
the person responsible for managing the vineyard as well as the
vine grower.
these wines must possess a certain concentration of sugars, which
is higher than that for the production of other Quality Wines.
This requirement alone is not sufficient to determine the quality
of these wines. Ideally, the quality of a DOK “Superior” wine
should also be based on the yield of grapes per hectare of
vineyard and not only on the sugar concentration that is reached
by the grapes at maturity. The same applies to Estate Wines,
whose high quality standards closely relate to the yield of grapes
produced in the vineyard as this determines quality characteristics
of the grapes.
The greater effort that is invested in the production of Estate
Wines, from the part of the winery as well as the winery’s vine
grower, is compensated for by the production of Quality Wines
that are placed on the market at a higher price than commercial
wines. The higher cost is, however, a reflection of the quality of
the product. Currently, there is a need to increase awareness
among vine growers on the use of these practices, employed in
the vineyard, to reduce the yield of grapes per vine, when
production is too high.
By decreasing the yield of grapes per hectare of vineyard, the
quality of the grapes and as a result of the wine, may increase
further. This is an important concept because the environment
and the microclimate is not homogenous across the Maltese
Islands: the same wine grape variety may thus produce slightly
higher yields in certain areas and give grapes which are of a
superior quality notwithstanding. There are also large differences
between one vine variety and another: some vine varieties will
give quality if the number of grape bunches per vine is very low
whereas other vine varieties will still produce grapes of a high
quality even if the yield per vine if much higher.
Currently the yields are similar for all DOK wines. However,
certain special mentions, such as DOK “Superior” require that the
wines possess a minimum natural and total alcoholic content in
order to be placed on the market. This must not be lower than
12.0% vol. for white and rosé wines and 12.5% vol. for red
wines. These limits imply that the grapes that are used to produce
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02. PROPOSALS
This section presents Government’s proposals. The aim of these
proposals is to stimulate and encourage the improvement and
development of the local wine sector. The salient proposals
include:
The consumer is also not fully aware of the increasing quality of
Maltese and Gozitan wines and as a result may favour foreign
wines because he/she believes that they are far superior in
quality/more fashionable that locally produced quality wines.
It is for this reason that Government is encouraging wineries to
launch a marketing campaign aimed at increasing awareness and
providing information to the end consumer.
They are also striving to communicate to consumers the quality
and added-value of their products. However, there is concern
among recently established wineries that present Regulations do
not fully address the production and marketing of Estate Wines
because they were drafted during a period of time in which
wineries produced more commercial wines.
3.
improved promotion and education;
further development of the production of estate wines;
wider representation of the wine sector on the main
regulatory board;
inclusion of stricter parameters for DOK superior and DOK
estate wines;
the establishment of a minimum price for farmers.
1.
A marketing campaign aimed at
increasing awareness among the public
is therefore necessary. This campaign
should focus on:
informing the consumer about the
quality of Maltese and Gozitan
Quality Wines;
educating the consumer on how to
distinguish a Quality Wine from a
wine that is commercial
Consumer awareness
Wineries are investing heavily in the production of Quality
Wines. The increasing presence on the market of IĠT and DOK
wines in comparison to more commercial Table Wines is proof
that wineries believe that the future of Maltese winemaking lies
in the production of these high quality products.
This step towards Quality Wines is slowly converting vine
growers, who in the past considered wines grapes to be just
another agricultural product that rendered remuneration. The
belief that a vine should produce a high yield of grapes, in order
to sell the grapes on the market and employ the surplus yield in
the production of wine is very detrimental to the production of
Quality Wines in the Maltese Islands. However, this perception is
gradually changing.
At present however, the consumer is still not fully aware of the
differences that exist in the production of commercial Table
Wines and Quality Wines. This lack of awareness, affects
consumer choice when presented with the wide array of wines
that are available on the market.
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
2.
This promotional campaign should be
undertaken by the Maltese and Gozitan
wineries with support from the
Ministry for Resources and Rural
Affairs and the EU programme for
marketing
and
promotions
in
accordance with Council Regulation
(EC) 501/2008
Estate wines
Since 2008, there has been an increase in estate wineries in Malta
and Gozo. These recently established estate wineries as well as
the historic producers of estate wines in the Maltese Islands are
investing heavily in the production of top-quality Estate Wines.
In
order
to
clearly
outline
the
requirements that a wine product should
satisfy to classify as an Estate Wine, the
requirements for Estate Wines in present
wine Regulations should be elaborated
further.
Currently the requirements for the use of an “Estate” mention
listed in the “DOK Wines Production Protocols Regulations,
2007” (L.N. 416 of 2007) are based on the characteristics of the
vineyard parcels from which the grapes are harvested as well as
their size and distance from the winery. It is also established in
these Regulations that the vineyard parcels are under the full
control of the winery.
Representation on the Wine
Regulations Board
At present, all the wineries, including the recently-established
small wineries are represented in the Technical Sub-Committee; a
Committee appointed by the Ministry for Resources and Rural
Affairs to provide the Minister with technical and scientific
advise in the fields of Viticulture and Oenology. This Technical
Sub-Committee meets regularly and is composed of technical
people from the established wineries, the proprietors of the
recently-established wineries in Malta and Gozo as well as the
officers of the Viticulture and Oenology Unit.
However, unlike the larger more established wineries, the
recently-established small wineries are not represented in the
Wine Regulations Board (WRB). The WRB is a Board
established under the Wine Act (Cap 436) and appointed by the
Page 7
Minister responsible for Agriculture to primarily monitor the
implementation of this Act and give advise to the Minister on the
development of policies, regulations and other matters covered
under the Wine Act. The Wine Regulations Board also receives
proposals from the Technical Sub-Committee for onward
transmission to the Minister responsible for Agriculture.
In the light of the broad remit of the Board and its impact on the
wine sector, it is felt that members on the Board should reflect
more broadly all the players in the sector. Therefore, the smaller
more recently established wineries should be represented on the
Board in order to discuss and influence issues which may
inevitably affect them too.
4.
Recently-established wineries should be
represented on the Wine Regulations
Board.
This may be achieved if these wineries become members of the
Malta Wine Association such that they are able to elect a person
to represent them on the Wine Regulations Board. No
amendment in the Wine Act is required in order to accommodate
such representation.
The concept of yield per hectare
The yield of grapes produced in a vineyard should be determined
per hectare of vines and not per vine, as is the current practice.
This is especially important for DOK “Superior” and DOK
“Estate” Wines. This is because vines naturally do not behave in
the same manner in the vineyard, even though they belong to the
same vine variety and are cultivated under the same
environmental and management conditions. Therefore, vines do
not produce the same yield per vine. In addition, a vine may
produce more grape bunches than another vine of the same
variety and notwithstanding, the quality parameters of the grapes
will be similar.
The yield of grapes per hectare of vineyard is more significant for
quality since, if the vineyard is overcropped and all the vines are
allowed to produce more grapes than they can mature properly,
then the quality will suffer. As a result, the quality of the wine
will be maintained with difficulty.
6.
Apart from the natural sugar concentration
of the grapes, the quality of DOK
“Superior” and DOK “Estate” wines should
also be based on the yield of grapes per
hectare of vineyard and not on the yield
per vine. This parameter must be included
in present Wine Regulations.
Therefore, in order to valorise Quality Wines produced locally
and guarantee that they are of the highest quality possible, the
maximum permitted yields/hectare of vineyard should be set per
vine variety in present Wine Regulations. Wineries may however,
decide to decrease the yield/hectare of vines further, in order to
further increase quality, and declare this on their wine labels.
Recognition of vine growers
The production of Quality Wines requires dedicated work from
the part of the vine grower to ensure that the grapes, which he/she
produces, meet the desired quality parameters. The higher is the
quality of the wine, the higher must be the quality of the grapes,
from which this wine is produced. DOK “Superior” and DOK
“Estate” Wines are situated at the tip of the quality hierarchy of
wines and thus demand that the grapes are of the highest quality
possible. Therefore, the input of the vine grower increases in
terms of the time that he/she dedicates to the management of the
vineyard, since he/she is required to carry out certain practices in
the vineyard to control production such that the grapes reach
perfect maturation.
However, the efforts of the vine grower must be compensated in
order be viable. This could be achieved by setting up minimum
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
contractual relations that would be applicable between vine
growers and vintners in the production of Quality Wines. These
could include compulsory minimum clauses as regards grape
prices for the different categories of grapes (for the production of
Table Wines, IĠT and DOK wines, including “Superior” and
“Estate” wines), the grape quantities to be delivered to the
wineries, and payment terms.
5.
Compulsory minimum clauses in contracts
between the vine growers and the vintners
could be set.
This would help stabilise the market’s balance between supply
and demand by improving contracts between farmers and
vintners, help stabilise farmers' income and improve transparency
throughout the wine supply chain.
In addition, aid programmes or subsidies should be increasingly
aimed at vine growers, such that they may produce grapes of a
high quality. This is due to the fact that Quality Wines depend on
investments in good vineyard practices and not solely on the
winery infrastructure.
It therefore makes more sense to consolidate existing wineries
and invest in the improvement of the vine growers’ capabilities
such that they may increase the quality of their production.
Marketing channels
Established wineries as well as the recently established smaller
wineries are aware of the importance of marketing in the sale of
their wine products. However, the latter believe that they require
a greater investment in marketing because they produce smaller
volumes of wines that are aimed at niche markets and therefore at
a specific category of consumers.
The marketing media that are employed determine the marketing
success of a winery. Due to the fact that the sector of Quality
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Wines is not a commercial sector, mass media tend to be avoided
in favour of more exlusive forms of marketing.
Promotion of responsible consumption of wine products should
be allowed on local mass media outlets in line with prevailing
practices across the EU.
7.
Broadcasting policies concerning wine
promotion should be revised by the
competent authorities in order to be
better aligned with practices in EU
Member States.
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03. WAY FORWARD
The measures set out in this paper are aimed at strengthening the Maltese and Gozitan wine sector and ensure that the quality of our wines continues to increase. They also take into consideration
the needs of the wineries as well as those of the vine growers. The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs recognises that in order to achieve success, the active participation of all the
stakeholders as well as the public in general in imperative. For this reason, the following questions, based on the proposals that are set out in this Green Paper, are being put forward to guide this
consultation process:
1.
The Ministry believes that wineries should be encouraged to launch a marketing campaign that is focused on informing the public about the quality of Maltese and Gozitan Quality Wines.
This will be a campaign that is undertaken by the wineries with the support of the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs.
Question 1: Do you agree that a marketing campaign, that is undertaken by wineries with the technical support of the Ministry, will serve as a useful tool to inform the public about
the difference between Quality Wines and Table Wines and aid the consumer in making an informed choice when purchasing wine products?
2.
In order to ensure that the level of quality of Estate Wines continues to increase, the requirements relating to the characteristics of the vineyard parcel, its size and distance from the
winery, do not suffice. The Ministry proposes that the concept of the yield of grapes (expressed as hL/Ha or tonnes/Ha) is introduced in wine Regulations and yield tresholds, above which
the grapes will no longer classify for the production of Estate Wines, are applied. These tresholds will be set per vine variety in the Wine Regulations.
Question 2: Do you agree that the introduction of the concept of yield, expressed as hL/Ha or tonnes/Ha in present wine Regulations and the application of yield tresholds will be
useful tools in ensuring that the level of quality of Estate Wines improves further, resulting in the production of wines of superior quality? Do you agree that this concept should also
apply for other categories of superior quality wines, such as DOK “Superior” wines?
3.
The Ministry proposes that Estate Wineries are represented on the Wine Regulations Board.
Question 3: Do you believe that this measure will serve to recognise Estate Wineries as important players in the wine sector?
4.
The Ministry believes that vine growers should be given recognition by ensuring transparency in grape prices from year to year. The Ministry is therefore proposing that grape prices are
set each year before the harvest begins, through consultation with the Wine Regulations Board. Once these grape prices are set, they shall be made available to the public through the
Ministry’s website.
Question 4: Do you agree that the Ministry’s proposal will serve to render the wine grape market more transparent and will help to support the vine growers’ efforts thus ensuring
that the quality of wine grapes continues to increase?
The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs considers that the measures proposed in this Green Paper require considerable consultation. Therefore, a three-month consultation process will be
initiated by the Ministry. The Ministry may also hold dedicated sessions with specific stakeholders.
Any views, suggestions and comments should be sent to [email protected] or Director of Agriculture, National Agricultre Research and Development Centre, Ghammieri, Luqa Malta
Electronic copies fo the Green Paper may be downloaded from www.mrra.gov.mt
Green Paper: The Maltese Wine Sector: A focus on quality wines
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
QWPS R
Quality Wine Produced in a Specified Region
DO K
Denominazzjoni ta’ Oriġni Kontrollata
I ĠT
Indikazzjoni Ġeografika Tipika
P DO
Protected Denomination of Origin
P GI
Protected Geographical Indication
W RB
Wine Reguations Board
MW A
Malta Wine Association
hL
Hectolitre
Ha
Hectare
MRRA
Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs
LN
Legal Notice
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