Noble red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah are just three of the red grape varieties that are being pressed at the Delicata winery this harvest period. These varieties are by far the most famous and thus widely planted throughout most of the world’s wine-making countries.

But Delicata will press 12 different red grapes in all, plus eight white varieties, this year, including ones from experimental vineyards for the very first time.

The other lesser-known red varieties pressed over the last two weeks were Grenache, Carignan, Cabernet Franc, Ġellewża, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Nero D’Avola and two new ones, Negroamaro and Graciano.

Delicata will press 12 different red grapes, plus eight white varieties, this year

Like the Tempranillo, Graciano is most famously used in Spain’s iconic red wine Rioja, albeit in smaller quantities, and in the neighbouring Navarra region. It is a low-yielding variety that produces red wines with deep colour and strong aromas, primarily used for its ageing potential in most Gran Reserva Riojas.

The Graciano is also used by some Australian winemakers, successfully blended with the Tempranillo.

The Negroamaro or Nero Amaro is almost exclusively grown in the Puglia region of southern Italy, particularly in Salento. It is a vigorous grape variety that produces some of the best full-bodied reds from the region and blends particularly well with Sangiovese. It also produces some first-class rosato wines, including Frizzante.

The red grapes still to be pressed at the Delicata winery include Ġellewża and Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache and Carignan for red wines.

Many of these varieties pressed so far were for rosé wine production only. Also still to be pressed is Malta’s indigenous white grape variety, Girgentina.