"This year has marked a hallmark in the production of Maltese wines and in line with EU regulations two new categories of wine will be produced for the first time this year". This was stated today by Dr Francis Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries during the launch of the first IGT wine "Novello" by the MonteKristo Vineyards Ltd.

Dr Agius explained that the highest category is that of Quality Wines produced in specified regions (Q.W.P.S.R.) which carry the designation of "Denominazzjoni ta' Origini Kontrollata" (D.O.K.).

The second category falls under that of Table wines with a Geographic Indication which have the designation of "Indikazzjoni Geografika Tipika". As the category names imply in both cases the emphasis is on the origin of the grapes from which the wine is made together with minimum quality parameters being adhered to.

The latter are known as production protocols and to-date three have been recognized by the Department of Agriculture after being reviewed by the Wine Regulation Board, which is the official consultation body of the Ministry with regards to policies on wines. Two of the approved protocols belong to the D.O.K. denomination covering "MALTA" and "GOZO" D.O.K. wines and the third belongs to the I.G.T. category covering "Maltese Islands" I.G.T. wines.

Parliamentary Secretary Agius said that these production protocols, which have been presented by a consortium made up of wineries, producer organisations and farmer associations, specify the minimum quality parameters of the wine grapes being utilized, those of the wine itself and the processes allowed and, last but not least labelling. The latter is of utmost importance since under these two quality schemes it is not up to the winemaker to declare the category of the wine but it will be the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment which shall be awarding the category after rigorous controls and final approval of all labelling content. The controls and certification are being carried out by the Viticulture and Oenology Unit through its officials who have taken samples from vineyards which have been registered under these schemes and from participating wineries. The ultimate goal is to assure the level of quality specified by the production protocols and the true origin of the grapes used through a traceability exercise.

Dr Agius said that he was proud to see and be present for the first wine to be certified under the "Maltese Islands" I.G.T. denomination is Montekristo Vineyards Ltd.'s new wine bearing the "Novello" mention. This wine has undergone the necessary controls and has been certified by the Viticulture and Oenology Unit in accordance with Legal Notice 167 of 2007 and Legal notice 190 of 2006. The Unit is also currently processing various applications received under both quality schemes from the participating wineries. Samples of wines submitted for certification under the D.O.K. scheme will be collected and sent for further quality checks, including an organoleptic analysis, which are also required by EU legislation.

Dr Agius said that in its policy of increasing quality, the EU has recently granted Malta a budget of €103,987 to restructure about 80 tumoli of vineyards. These funds will be available to farmers who want to increase the qualitative output of their vineyards in accordance to the National Plan for the restructuring and conversion of vineyards in Malta.

Applications under this scheme may be lodged with the Viticulture and Oenology Unit between 12 November 2007 and 1 February 2008. Furthermore in the current proposal for a reform of the wine sector the EU has allocated to Malta, by virtue of its 910 hectares of vineyards, a budget of €1.6 Million for the period covering 2009 up to 2015.

"In the year 2009 Malta will be able to avail itself, under the wine Common Market Organisation, of €104,000 for restructuring its vineyards, €37,000 for promoting its quality wines on third country markets and €21,000 which will be transferred to Rural Development measures," said Dr Agius.