The 2013 vintage Gran Cavalier Sauvignon Blanc DOK Malta, produced by Emmanuel Delicata, has been awarded a special mention diploma at the 21st Vinitaly International Wine Competition held in Verona last month.
A little less than 3,000 wines from all over the world entered the competition. At the end of the five-day tasting sessions, 73 medals (17 Grand Gold medals,16 gold, 18 silver, 22 bronze) and 715 special mention diplomas were awarded.
The wines were separated into three categories: still wines, semi-sparkling wines and sparkling wines. All entries were rendered anonymous before the competition and were subjected to careful assessment by 21 juries, chaired by Giuseppe Martelli, director general of Assoenologi and president of the National Wine Committee of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture.
Fifteen tasting sessions involved over 40 hours of assessments that also saw the debut of a digital form of assessment – an absolute innovation and an impressive technological investment by Veronafiere and Assoenologi.
For Giovanni Mantovani, CEO & director general of Veronafiere, “the competition for companies taking part is an important marketing lever, not only for medal winners – less than three per cent of total entries – but also for winemakers awarded special mention diplomas.”
Sauvignon Blanc wines have been growing in popularity in the last few years
The International Wine Competition is organised by Veronafiere with the patronage of the Commission for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament, the Union Internationale des Oenologues, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry for Economic Development.
The complete list of 2014 results is available at www.vinitaly.com/ ExhibitosArea/vinitalyInter-nationalCompetition/sel/2.
Delicata’s Gran Cavalier Sauvignon Blanc DOK Malta is made using the maceration pelliculaire or cold maceration method, which involves a period of time for pre-fermentation skin contact to improve the flavour and varietal characteristics of the wine.
The 2013 vintage of the Gran Cavalier Sauvignon Blanc was produced under the watchful eye of Matthew Delicata, who forms part of the company’s latest fourth generation of family winemakers.
Sauvignon Blanc wines have been growing in popularity in the last few years, especially the Malta-grown ones, as wine lovers have started to discover and appreciate them more and more.
For lovers of this wine, the 2013 Gran Cavalier is a ‘must’ to try. Its crisp ‘zingy’ fruit flavours are reminiscent of pink grapefruit and lychees and it is bursting with crisp, ripe, citric fruit flavours.
Chilled well before serving, it makes the perfect pre-dinner aperitif or accompaniment to fresh fish dishes, seafood platters, shellfish, salads, asparagus and seafood or poultry-based pasta dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc also goes particularly well with some oriental dishes, especially Thai and sushi.