Victoria heights red a runner-up in Piedmont

The rural town of Gabiano, located in the hilly area of the Monferrato in the province of Alessandria, has recently hosted a wine festival which has become a popular yearly event in the famous Italian wine region of Piedmont.

The activity, held in the Castle of Gabiano, was hosted by the Marchese of Gabiano and attracted many visitors from all over Italy and overseas.

Present for the occasion from Malta was the mayor of Santa Luċija, Frederick Cutajar, vice mayor Joe Balzan and councillors Joe Bonello and Paulette Gafa`.

The locality of Santa Luċija and the town of Gabiano entered into a twinning agreement back in 2008 and has since been working on many issues of common interest.

The mayor of Gabiano, Mario Tribocco, invited the Santa Luċija local council to participate in this year’s festival.

The council, with the cooperation of Emmanuel Delicata Wine-maker, presented the 2009 Victoria Heights Merlot DOK Gozo, 2010 Medina Sauvignon Blanc DOK Malta Superior and 2010 Medina Rose Grenache DOK Malta wines.

“All those who tasted the Delicata wines at the festival were full of praise for the three Maltese wines” said the mayor; and it came as no surprise that the Victoria Heights Merlot from Gozo was then invited to take place in the annual wine competition of Piemonte wines and was subsequently positioned in a very respectable second place. The wines were judged by three leading sommeliers from the Piedmont region.

The Castle in Gabiano hosted the 14th edition of Wine in the Court – the great feast of wines of Monferrato.

The beautiful streets of the castle were freely accessible to the public in the morning and throughout the day.

In the morning wine producers set up in spaces along the streets and in squares below the manor.

In the afternoon there was an international festival of classical music and wine entitled Waiting for Bach and Bacchus, where a duo of harp and flute accompanied the presentation of three wines: A white Monferrato DOC Court, the Ruby of Cantavenna DOC and DOC reserve Gabiano Matilde Giustiniani.

In addition to that the Enoteca Regionale Del Monferrato, whose headquarters are located in the castle itself, offered a tasting of local rosato, claret and light reds, in combination with local food products.

In an adjacent area the prize for the exhibition Wine and Roses was awarded.