Delicata’s first red grapes from the 2012 harvest arrived at the winery earlier this week.

The two varieties were the initial pickings of both the DOK Malta Syrah and DOK Malta Merlot grapes. This year’s climatic conditions helped both grapes achieve a more regular but progressive ripening process than in 2011 and the substantial winter rains were also a bonus.

Disease infestation was also lower this year, possibly as a result of the customised winter pruning exercise carried out by Delicata’s team of French experts back in February.

These pruning techniques also helped increase the grapes’ natural sugars; in fact, both varieties have better sugar levels and much riper tannins. After fermentation in Delicata’s new specialised tanks, which are designed to handle riper grapes, the DOK Malta wines will be bottled as Medina Syrah and Medina Merlot.