The grape harvesting season in Malta has officially opened, with picking for wine production beginning across Malta and Gozo.

Unfortunately, this season, rain arrived late in spring and continued into June, resulting in mould across the vines.

Agricultural Minister Anton Refalo noted that farmers followed the appropriate guidelines within the Integrated Pest Management issued by the Directorate of Agriculture to effectively control such issues.

“This further confirms the importance of the work being carried out by this Directorate to provide significant assistance to Maltese and Gozitan farmers,” said Refalo.

Darren Borg, Chief Agricultural Officer from the Directorate of Agriculture, explained that grapes grow and mature between spring and summer, but each year the growth season varies from one season to another.

“This year, the season started quite fresh with more rain than usual. This led to a season that started with later maturation than usual, especially for certain varieties,” Borg said.

“In July, we then had a higher humidity level than normal, putting stress on the vines during this period. These specific conditions create the differences in production for each year. Grape picking has now begun with early varieties, and it is expected to continue until the end of September.”

Refalo concluded by saying that “quality grapes are among the products directly associated with our country, and it is important to remember how this product is sought after by tourists visiting the Maltese islands. Its quality is recognised by the European Union, which continues to emphasise the importance of the agricultural sector in our country.”