Wine Intergroup members tour Meridiana

Six members of the Wine Intergroup, who were in Malta on a fact-finding study of Maltese vineyards and wineries, recently toured Meridiana Wine Estate at Ta' Qali.

Set up in 1994, the Wine Intergroup is made up of Euro-Parliamentarians who are interested in international wine making practices from the perspectives of quality and tradition. It comprises 150 MEPs from the 15 EU member states.

The group visiting Malta from Luxembourg, France, Germany and Belgium was led by Wine Intergroup chairman Astrid Lulling from Luxembourg.

Ms Lulling said it was important that Maltese vintners adopt the rules of the Office International de La Vigne et du Vin without delay.

OIV rules ban the addition of sugar to wine and also prohibits any labelling which misleadingly suggests that wines produced from imported grape-must are 'Maltese' or 'local'."

Growers will only be guaranteed a sustainable future in Maltese viticulture as long as their produce remains indispensable in the wine-production process.

"This is why Maltese wine must be made exclusively from grapes grown in Malta," she said.

She added that it was in the interest of winegrowers to unite, organise themselves and speak with one voice.

Ms Lulling also hoped that Malta would avail itself of the viticultural incentives offered by EU membership.