Day Nine: Meridiana Estates, A Meeting With Popeye and Gozo.
Meridiana Estates Winery
In 1960, British airfield in was deactivated and the land stood fallow of some time until in 1987 this military plot of land became the peaceful home of Meridiana Estates Winery. The 19 Hectare property was planted in Siggiewi below the walled fortress city of Mdina.
A famous name of wine came into the fold in the manner of the Marques d'Antonari of the famed Tuscany estates in Italy.
The estate, called by the Maltese name of Ta' Qali, was planted with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. The winery was built in 1996 and was specifically designed to look like a country house. Special cellars were dug to house the wine barrels in them. The temperature was/is naturally maintained at a very cool temperature with excellent moisture moisture ratio.
The old air control station was renovated and had the Sundial and Meridiana insignia put on the top level of the building. They are used to signify Malta's southern location.
Roger Aquilina introduced himself to us and from the minute he opened his mouth I knew that he was a special person whose passion about wine was omnipresent.
This oenologist spoke of the history of Meridianaand made it live. When he spoke of the wine, the dynamics of wine making in Malta became very clear.
He spoke of the planting the vines in the direction of the prevailing winds to avoid dryness. He spoke of precision in winemaking versus the art in winemaking and how they differ. He spoke of the intricate chemical reactions that govern the winemaking yet the magic of the winemaker "making something that tastes good and that people like". Then we tasted wines. Marvellous wines.
Wines Tasted
Isis Chardonnay: On the nose some vanilla with a generous background of pineapple, mango and citrus (Mandarin), on the palate, generous tropical fruit with a clean pleasant finish with an integrated acidity that does not overpower the taste. Great sipping wine and lovely as a salad wine using some of the same wine as a light dressing.
Melquart: Nice power on the nose. Ripe dark fruit (black currant) flavours predominate with a touch of the red as a background. On the palate: Cassis and black currant with a great mouth feel. Some pepper spice and ainise on the finish. Lovely.
Bel: My favourite of the three, specifically because I love a Syrah. This Syrah has everything that I could possibly want from the great nose: Pepper, Ripe Black Cherry and Plum to the palate: Dark fruit, prunes and right touch of wood. The finish is lingering and lasts with the ending just as the beginning---pepper. Greg, Trudy and I went to Il Barri restaurant in Mgarr and I couldn't help drinking this wine to the last drop while enjoying Bragjoli. Wow. Greg had Rabbit another perfect match. A wine I will remember for a long time!
After lunch we went to Popeye's Village where we did a skit with Popeye and Olive Oil. The Popeye set is the original set used in the 1980's movie with Robin Williams and Shelly Duval. The two persons that were playing the characters of Popeye and Olive Oil at this set were perfect for their parts. I acted the part of Bluto/Brutus (which I knew well from previous multitudes of cartoons that I watched as a child and tried to steal Olive away from him but as usual, Popeye saved the day and Olive. It went off very well. We then went to the ferry and went to Gozo.
Calypso Hotel
We registered at the Calypso Hotel and found it very nice. Rooms were nicely done though not as spacious as the Fortina. There was adequate free Internet however which was a plus. We went out at 9 PM (2i:00hrs) to the Delicata Wine Festival and did basically the same as we did in Qormi. The food was a bit different such as Roast Pig but the event was essentially was the same. Bill Hermitage of Delicata welcomed us and gave both of us a signed copy of his book and a tour of the event. I had some great wines such as (again) a nice Syrah which was somewhat lighter in style than the previous blockbuster but the intent here was to make a wine that was lighter and enjoyable with a wider range of foods. It was a cold climate Syrah compared to the big style the other Meridiana exhibited. Both were goon in their respective ways. That is the fun in wine and that shows where the skill of the winemaker is at.
It was then to bed to start another day in Gozo!
End Of Day Nine
In 1960, British airfield in was deactivated and the land stood fallow of some time until in 1987 this military plot of land became the peaceful home of Meridiana Estates Winery. The 19 Hectare property was planted in Siggiewi below the walled fortress city of Mdina.
A famous name of wine came into the fold in the manner of the Marques d'Antonari of the famed Tuscany estates in Italy.
The estate, called by the Maltese name of Ta' Qali, was planted with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. The winery was built in 1996 and was specifically designed to look like a country house. Special cellars were dug to house the wine barrels in them. The temperature was/is naturally maintained at a very cool temperature with excellent moisture moisture ratio.
The old air control station was renovated and had the Sundial and Meridiana insignia put on the top level of the building. They are used to signify Malta's southern location.
Roger Aquilina introduced himself to us and from the minute he opened his mouth I knew that he was a special person whose passion about wine was omnipresent.
This oenologist spoke of the history of Meridianaand made it live. When he spoke of the wine, the dynamics of wine making in Malta became very clear.
He spoke of the planting the vines in the direction of the prevailing winds to avoid dryness. He spoke of precision in winemaking versus the art in winemaking and how they differ. He spoke of the intricate chemical reactions that govern the winemaking yet the magic of the winemaker "making something that tastes good and that people like". Then we tasted wines. Marvellous wines.
Wines Tasted
Isis Chardonnay: On the nose some vanilla with a generous background of pineapple, mango and citrus (Mandarin), on the palate, generous tropical fruit with a clean pleasant finish with an integrated acidity that does not overpower the taste. Great sipping wine and lovely as a salad wine using some of the same wine as a light dressing.
Melquart: Nice power on the nose. Ripe dark fruit (black currant) flavours predominate with a touch of the red as a background. On the palate: Cassis and black currant with a great mouth feel. Some pepper spice and ainise on the finish. Lovely.
Bel: My favourite of the three, specifically because I love a Syrah. This Syrah has everything that I could possibly want from the great nose: Pepper, Ripe Black Cherry and Plum to the palate: Dark fruit, prunes and right touch of wood. The finish is lingering and lasts with the ending just as the beginning---pepper. Greg, Trudy and I went to Il Barri restaurant in Mgarr and I couldn't help drinking this wine to the last drop while enjoying Bragjoli. Wow. Greg had Rabbit another perfect match. A wine I will remember for a long time!
After lunch we went to Popeye's Village where we did a skit with Popeye and Olive Oil. The Popeye set is the original set used in the 1980's movie with Robin Williams and Shelly Duval. The two persons that were playing the characters of Popeye and Olive Oil at this set were perfect for their parts. I acted the part of Bluto/Brutus (which I knew well from previous multitudes of cartoons that I watched as a child and tried to steal Olive away from him but as usual, Popeye saved the day and Olive. It went off very well. We then went to the ferry and went to Gozo.
Calypso Hotel
We registered at the Calypso Hotel and found it very nice. Rooms were nicely done though not as spacious as the Fortina. There was adequate free Internet however which was a plus. We went out at 9 PM (2i:00hrs) to the Delicata Wine Festival and did basically the same as we did in Qormi. The food was a bit different such as Roast Pig but the event was essentially was the same. Bill Hermitage of Delicata welcomed us and gave both of us a signed copy of his book and a tour of the event. I had some great wines such as (again) a nice Syrah which was somewhat lighter in style than the previous blockbuster but the intent here was to make a wine that was lighter and enjoyable with a wider range of foods. It was a cold climate Syrah compared to the big style the other Meridiana exhibited. Both were goon in their respective ways. That is the fun in wine and that shows where the skill of the winemaker is at.
It was then to bed to start another day in Gozo!
End Of Day Nine
posted by Chuck Byers - Wine Consultant | 12:39 AM
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