With a slightly earlier start than usual, Delicata is pressing the first grapes harvested from the 2013 vintage this morning.

The first variety hand-picked this year by the farming families that supply Delictata are the noble white Malta-grown grapes, Chardonnay. Today’s crush will press around 28,000 kilos of DOK Malta Chardonnay.

Four days from now, the white grape variety Sauvignon Blanc will be harvested along with more Maltese and Gozitan Chardonnay, all of which will be delivered to Delicata’s grape receiving area at their state-of-the-art winery on the Paola waterfront.

In mid-August, the Maltese Moscato will be harvested and pressed, as well as red Shiraz (Syrah) grapes (DOK Malta and Gozo) but for rosé wine production only. At the end of the month, other DOK white varieties will include Viognier, Vermentino and Zibibbo as well as the red grape varieties Grenache (for rosé wines), Sangiovese and Merlot.

At the beginning of September, the big red wine grape varieties Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc will be harvested along with more Grenache (for reds) and Carignan. Malta’s two indigenous varieties will also be picked and pressed during September: first, the white Girgentina, and then the red Ġellewża.

Finally, towards mid to end September, the last of the local grapes will be picked.

These late harvest grapes will be assorted varieties that have been identified by Delicata’s viticulturists and winemakers as having the quality attributes to produce something special.

All this means that this independent, fourth-generation, award-winning winemaker will press well over one million kilos of Maltese and Gozitan DOK and IGT quality grapes this year. This is equal to, if not more, than the amount pressed last year.