Wines Malta Marsovin - 1919 Artist Edition - 2023

Viniou Reviews

Marsovin's Cuvée 1919 Artist Edition 2023 is a striking red wine produced on the island of Malta, under the Malta DOK designation. As a cuvée, it typically features a blend of native and international grape varieties, often including Ġellewża (a traditional Maltese red grape), supplemented by varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, depending on the vintage and winemaker's vision. The 2023 vintage benefits from the region’s ample sunshine and moderated Mediterranean breezes, which favour steady ripening and develop deep fruit character while maintaining balance and freshness. The vinification style at Marsovin focuses on extracting vibrant colour and flavour, accentuating both fruit expressiveness and subtle complexity through careful fermentation and judicious aging, commonly in a mix of stainless steel and oak to preserve typicity.

The island of Malta’s winemaking heritage is centuries old, shaped by a unique combination of calcareous, well-drained soils and a climate marked by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The limestone-rich terroir imparts a distinctive mineral edge to local wines, while proximity to the sea ensures temperature moderation that slows down grape maturation, enhancing aromatic development. This rich heritage and favourable climate have helped Malta earn its DOK appellation, with quality-focused producers like Marsovin leading a modern revival and creative reinterpretation of local styles.

Pairing Marsovin’s Cuvée 1919 Artist Edition with food, you’ll find it complements a wide array of dishes. Its fruit-forward profile and gentle tannic structure will enjoy the company of slow-cooked lamb, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, or classic Maltese dishes such as fenek (rabbit stew) or beef bragioli. The wine’s freshness also matches grilled fish like swordfish or tuna, accompanied by herbed potatoes or caponata.

For optimum enjoyment, serve this red slightly cooler than room temperature, ideally at 16-18°C. Decanting for about half an hour allows its aromatic layers to unfold, revealing an inviting balance of dark fruit, subtle spice, and mineral undertones, offering a taste of Malta’s proud winemaking tradition in every glass.