Winemaking industry set for boost in EU talks

13 - 19 December 2000

By Miriam Dunn

The government has indicated that it is willing to throw its weight behind the local winemaking industry when it comes to discussing land allocation with the European Union for the planting of vines.

Speaking during an interview with our sister paper, MaltaToday, Emmanuel Delicata executive director, Bill Hermitage, explained that the main problem Malta’s viticulture industry faces relates to the shortfall of land available for vines to be grown on.

This problem takes on more of a sense of urgency in light of the Island’s EU membership bid, since the Union has decided that the amount of land allocated for new vineyards in EU countries can only be increased by two per cent until 2010.

Although winemakers had felt frustrated that they might be running out of time to get new vineyards planted before EU membership changed the ground rules, Mr Hermitage stressed that there was another option.

"Obviously all the EU countries will be fighting for their share of the all-important two per cent of land for vine-planting," he explained. "But Malta is in a good position to negotiate an increase on this land, because we are not yet self sufficient. We need the government behind us, admittedly, but the indication is that this is the case."

Mr Hermitage added that the winemaking sector needed restructuring, irrespective of whether or not Malta entered the EU.

The biggest issue, he admitted, was trying to help the island grow enough vines for grape importation to become a thing of the past.

"At present, there are some 2,500 tumuli of land under vine, but it is not nearly enough," he said. "We need another 10,000 tumuli. After all, we don’t only want to produce what we need now, we want the industry to grow and expand, so that we can export. We have the potential to do this."

Mr Hermitage stressed that the amount of land needed was not as vast as it sounded.
"There are currently some 120,000 tumuli of agricultural land, so what we actually want is about 8.5% of it under vine," he explained.

"We know the island is small, so it is inevitable that the land that can be made available for vines will be fragmented. We are quite happy to adapt to the situation and are, indeed, working very well with part-time farmers, who are being encouraged under the ‘Vines for Wines’ project."

Mr Hermitage added that there were now 78 skilled vinegrowers. Another 25 plots are being planted in January, which will mean that there will be over 100 farmers, working 450 tumuli of land in the New Year.

The approaching festive season is obviously a busy time for the winemaking industry, but as Mr Hermitage explained, it is a line of business that is ever-changing.

"We are always busy, but then, the wine industry is always on the move," he said. "It is a very aggressive industry. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is probably the most aggressive industry on the island."

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