Grapes & Wine
A favourite topic of mine this week is about wine and the process of picking the grapes and turning it into wine. It is thought that the Phonecians were the people who introduced vines to Malta and planted two varieties of vines. A white grape vine (known as the Girgentina), and a red grape vine (known as the Gellewza). Over time, the two vine varieties adapted themselves to the long, hot and dry summer days and the poor quality soil found in Malta.
It wasn’t until the 1970’s, that wine production became professional, and different varieties of vine tried to be introduced, but the Maltese vine grower was reluctant to switch to new varieties, as this would mean that his fields would have to be left unproductive for several years because a vine does not produce high quality grapes for at least three years after planting.
In winter, the vines are cut down to leave two or three branches, and in April, the branches start to produce new shoots, and by June, the grapes start developing and are hidden between the leaves of the vine. Throughout the summer months, the grapes continue to grow and ripen, until they are harvested at the end of August. Harvesting grapes is a delicate process as it is important not to break the skin as this will affect the quality of the grape, so the harvesting is usually done by grape pickers that are members or close friends of the vine grower. They start harvesting at dawn and the amount of time it takes is dependant on how many vines there are. The grapes are then taken from the vineyard to the winery by lorry, where they are weighed and the vineyard owner is paid whatever the rate is at the time.
Then the wine making process begins, with the white grapes being pressed and the juice put into vats for fermentation, while the red grapes are just placed straight into fermentation vats for a week, when they are then strained. The reason why this process is different, is because red wine is only red because the colour is extracted from the skin of the grapes. After fermentation, the wine is then bottled.
The vine tree is very popular in Maltese gardens, and are usually planted near the main garden path, and grow over a pergola type of construction, made out of either wood or metal, which allows the branches of the vine to rest on the structure. The owner of the garden takes great pride in the grapes and when they are ripe enough, will pick them and either make their own wine, or place a bunch in the centre of the dining table to be eaten after a long lunch.
A vine in a local garden
The best local wines are drunk in the winter, and in the past, when men used to return home from work, they would wash and then go off to the band club for, and wait for this…….a pint of wine!!! Sounds good to me.
No explanation needed
Chinese Food
I decided to go out the other day for a Chinese meal, and found a rather good place quite local to where I live, which was very good value for money. I had a pint of lager, egg fried rice, sweet and sour chicken and finished off with a pot of Jasmine tea. The total bill was €18.20 (£16), and the food tasted excellent. But the whole point of me telling you this story, is that there was a waiter in the restauarant who was very polite, but also very irritating. Why? Well everytime he came to my table or anyone elses with drink, food, the bill, or whatever, he would say ‘Hello’.
I got it seven times. Came to light the hot plate on the table (Hello), pint of lager (Hello), empty plate to put on hot plate (Hello), egg fried rice and sweet and sour chicken dishes (Hello). Jasmine tea (Hello), bill (Hello), returned to table with my change (Hello).
Wow, was I pleased to get out of the place.