Maltese wines deserve to be showcased, which is why the government is planning to invest in an enoteca in Valletta where tourists and locals will be able to taste the local produce.

Malta boasted of 75 DOK (Denominazzjoni ta' Oriġini Kontrollata) wines that were EU-certified quality wines produced in specified regions, Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said.

The planned enoteca - literally a wine repository giving visitors a taste of the wines on offer - will be housed at Barriera Wharf, further down from the Valletta Waterfront in one of the warehouses there. About 19 local wines were recognised as IĠT (Indikazzjoni Ġeografika Tipika) category wines, that is, they are produced from locally-grown grapes.

Mr Pullicino said that last year the government lived up to its commitment to agriculture including viticulture. Over €5 million in EU funds covering the period 2001 - 2014 would go into the sector. Such financial help encouraged more investment and the land cultivated as vineyards increased from 340 hectares in 2001 to 950 hectors today.

As he outlined the work carried out by his ministry over the past year, Mr Pullicino insisted on the spirit of consultation. He had launched two important consultation documents: on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and the revision of the national waste management strategy. He announced that he would be launching a National Energy Policy in the coming days. The goal is to ensure energy efficiency and tackle issues such as dependency on oil, energy distribution and the reduction of emissions.