Much like our forefathers believed that the stars controlled their
destiny, we now know that climate and geographical regions affect the chemical
composition of grapes and, in turn, of wine. The study of this science, and
some might even say nature’s art, is called viticulture, and the Merill Rural Network is proud to be helping out those furthering Malta’s sector in this
sphere.
Grapes are an incredibly versatile berry: They
can be eaten fresh, add a burst of zingy sweetness to dishes as raisins or
sultanas, and even make the anti-oxidising drink that is grape juice. But for
all its worth, their best loved and most influential use remains their ability
to ferment and create one of the world’s oldest alcoholic beverages... Wine.
At Merill, we champion tradition, crafts from an
age that is fast disappearing, and the use of long-established practices when
it comes to agriculture, but we also understand that science and new knowledge
are there to help us build a more sustainable and efficacious system. And that’s
where our viticulturists come in.
Meet Carmel &
Paul Cortis, brothers by blood and in the
field
Working the land is a backbreaking job that, more
often than not, cements the bond that ties father to son, mother to daughter,
and sibling to sibling. Carmel and Paul Cortis, are brothers in and out of the
field, but their mutual love for viticulture has led them to develop a requited
fondness that is evident in their work.
Chances are, you’ve already laid your eyes on one
of the patches of land that the Cortis brothers manicure on a weekly basis.
Perched just beneath the imposing, fortified city of Mdina lies their vineyard;
a beautiful medley of colourful vines that contrast exceptionally well with the
straw-coloured walls of the Medieval Silent City.
It’s hard to believe that this landscape was once
devoid of life, and that Carmel and Paul had to reintroduce soil and plant
vines when they first took up farming. They’ve come a long way since then and,
through heavy investment in machinery and new technology, hard work, and pure
determination, they are now the proud carers of a plantation of grapevines that
bears fruit in the summer and provides greenery throughout the rest of the
year.
Carmel and Paul are part-time farmers, but most
of their free time is spent tending the field, along with their wives and
children, who provide a helping hand whenever needed but particularly during
harvesting season, when the workload is at its peak.
Meet Patrick
Gauci, a man whose pastime enriches the
landscape
While not many fathers expect their children to
follow in their footsteps, Patrick is one who can proudly say that his
influence on his son gained Malta another, much-needed agriculture graduate. At
55 years old, however, Patrick still spends a lot of his time farming, and is a
person whose pastime is ‘rewarding’, ‘relaxing’ and beneficial to Malta’s
grape-growing industry and the land he sows.
Situated at the foot of the ridge where Gnien
l-Gharusa tal-Mosta lies, the Ghajn Rihana Vineyards yield grapes that go on to
produce some of the Island’s most celebrated wines. All this, Patrick does in
his free time, but he has been doing so since he was a child, and is grateful
to have found someone who will take care of his land with him and also once he
can no longer do it himself.
With a lifetime’s worth of experience in farming
and viticulture, Patrick has a wealth of intellectual and practical knowledge
in the field that is now fostered and bolstered by the EU-funded LEADER programme, secured through the Merill Rural Network.
Written by WriteMeAnything.com
