The very first of Malta’s native grape varieties arrived at the Delicata winery for inspection and pressing a week ago. Malta’s black grape, Ġellewża was the first to be harvested, ahead of the white native grape, Girgentina.

This unique indigenous variety plays a vital role in the Delicata portfolio of wines, not only as a mono variety but also as a wine for blending.

It is particularly renowned for the quality of rosé wines it produces; and in Delicata’s case, that means the Pjazza Regina Rosé, Maltese Falcon Rosé and the semi-sparkling rosé wine Ġellewża Frizzante which has gained much popularity both locally and in Sweden under the prestigious label brand Bodvar of Sweden.

This year’s grape achieved better than average sugar levels, was disease-free and has good colour, which should result in more concentrated wines with good alcohol levels.

The Ġellewża grape is a bigger, fleshier grape than its ‘international’ cousins like Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is grown using a traditional bush method as opposed to the trellis system. It is also a very hardy grape variety that rarely gets irrigated and ripens late, sometimes as late as mid-September.

The last of the Delicata 2012 grapes to be harvested is the white Girgentina that start arriving at the Delicata winery today and will roll over until next week.

Pressing of this year’s harvest should finish by Wednesday.