Will Malta Shine Again This Year at Emozioni Dal Mondo ?

If the past is any indication, our chances look good. Sara Cantoni reports.

There's only one OIV-recognised international wine competition that is focused on Merlot and Cabernet Wine worldwide, and it takes place every year in Bergamo, Italy.

Its name is Emozioni dal Mondo: Merlot e Cabernet Insieme. And Malta, with its wines, has been a relevant part in it all along its 20-year-long history.

The origins of Emozioni dal Mondo date back to 2004, when Consorzio Tutela Valcalepio organised a series of meetings focusing on Merlot and Cabernet blend wines.

Why Merlot and Cabernet? Because those are the main characters of the first DOC recognised in Bergamo, Valcalepio DOC. The oenologist Sergio Cantoni proposed to broaden the scope of analysis; he wanted to investigate Merlot and Cabernet blends further.

He wanted to create a worldwide moment of comparison and an occasion of meeting and exchange that would involve all the countries producing Merlot and Cabernet wines.

Vignaioli Bergamaschi and Consorzio Tutela Valcalepio joined him and have been taking charge of the organisation and realisation of the competition since, with Cantoni in the role of supervisor and director.

In 2005 the first edition of the International Oenological Competition Emozioni dal Mondo Merlot e Cabernet Insieme took place.

Emozioni eventually gained its OIV official recognition and grew in time. In 2024, 304 samples produced in 25 different nations reached Bergamo for the official tasting. 75 professional tasters came to Bergamo from 29 countries worldwide to taste the samples and award Emozioni dal Mondo medals.

"Emozioni dal Mondo Merlot e Cabernet Insieme" format is one of a kind. One of the organisers' aims is to promote the Region of Bergamo, its oenological production, its touristic landscape, and its cultural panorama. This is the reason why "Emozioni dal Mondo Merlot e Cabernet Insieme" does not have a fixed location.

Every year, Emozioni dal Mondo Merlot e Cabernet Insieme shows the world something new and unexpected of Valcalepio and its region. Malta took part in this international event since the beginning: Maltese tasters (among them the late Roger Aquilina, Kevin Schembri and Josef Bonello), enrolled and awarded samples have been registered in Bergamo for more than 15 years now.

Camilleri wines enrolled its wines in the very first edition of Emozioni dal Mondo in 2005. Many others followed. Wines produced by Emmanuel Delicata, Marsovin, Cassar Camilleri, Maria Rosa Wine Estate, Tal-Massar Winery, and Ta' Betta Wine Estate have been part of Emozioni dal Mondo in these last 20 years.

Malta gained many medals at Emozioni dal Mondo. Nowadays, the international competition represents a fundamental event in the oenological panorama. Its medals are recognised worldwide. International media cover the event, spreading the list of awarded wines worldwide.

Emozioni dal Mondo organises many events to promote the competition and the medals. A booth of Emozioni dal Mondo has been installed at Vinitaly in Verona for many years.

Emozioni dal Mondo has also organised tastings and award ceremonies abroad. Last February, a grand Emozioni dal Mondo awarding ceremony took place in Belgrade to celebrate the significant participation of samples produced in the Balkans.