Wine production protocols made law
The government has published the legal notice setting up the Denomination of Origin (DOK) and of Geographic Indications (IGT), backdating the relevant production protocols to May 1, 2007.The protocol lays down the rules which determine when a wine can...
The government has published the legal notice setting up the Denomination of Origin (DOK) and of Geographic Indications (IGT), backdating the relevant production protocols to May 1, 2007.
The protocol lays down the rules which determine when a wine can be called "Maltese" or "Gozitan" and cover everything from how to grow the grapes and the maximum yield per hectare to the definition of a vineyard and an estate.
Anything that does not meet these criteria - including any wines made from foreign grapes - will have to be labelled as table wine.
The DOK are the most stringent, with "reserva" or "superior" for the best quality wines, while the IGT wines will still have to meet very strict standards but may have lower natural alcohol levels.
The legal notice means that the current harvest will now be able to use the DOK or IGT labels, considered to be very important to the local wine industry, especially for those wine producers looking to export.
The protocols have been in the pipeline for years and the final versions has adopted most of the suggestions made by the industry - except for the definition of any regions other than Malta and Gozo.
However, the indications are that these will be done in time for the 2008 harvest. In the meantime, the EU is planning to reform its own wine production regulations in the coming years.
One of the changes being considered would make it possible to indicate the varietal of grapes used in table wines, something not presently allowed.
DOK and IGT could not be considered until enough grapes were grown locally.
In 2003, around 600 hectares were used as vineyards, rising to over 910 hectares now.
The protocol lays down the rules which determine when a wine can be called "Maltese" or "Gozitan" and cover everything from how to grow the grapes and the maximum yield per hectare to the definition of a vineyard and an estate.
Anything that does not meet these criteria - including any wines made from foreign grapes - will have to be labelled as table wine.
The DOK are the most stringent, with "reserva" or "superior" for the best quality wines, while the IGT wines will still have to meet very strict standards but may have lower natural alcohol levels.
The legal notice means that the current harvest will now be able to use the DOK or IGT labels, considered to be very important to the local wine industry, especially for those wine producers looking to export.
The protocols have been in the pipeline for years and the final versions has adopted most of the suggestions made by the industry - except for the definition of any regions other than Malta and Gozo.
However, the indications are that these will be done in time for the 2008 harvest. In the meantime, the EU is planning to reform its own wine production regulations in the coming years.
One of the changes being considered would make it possible to indicate the varietal of grapes used in table wines, something not presently allowed.
DOK and IGT could not be considered until enough grapes were grown locally.
In 2003, around 600 hectares were used as vineyards, rising to over 910 hectares now.