Josef Bonello, has just been appointed as the first ambassador for the promotion of the wines of Malta and Gozo.

In this new role, Malta’s new ambassador shall be aiming to raise the profile and knowledge of Maltese wines, both locally and more importantly internationally. His mission is to establish a brand identity for The Maltese Islands’ wines and also Mediterranean wines through his great experience and love of wine sector.

Josef Bonello’s own wine journey began more than thirty years ago when a local winery presented him with an opportunity to market its range of Maltese wines. Throughout his career, he gained valuable experience with local winemakers and wine importers who gave him the opportunity to represent wines from around the world. In the meantime, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust provided him with the academic foundations that fuelled his infectious enthusiasm for wine.

Over the last forty years, the Maltese wine scene has experienced a tremendous growth as more and more wine drinkers are appreciating Maltese wine for its quality, and understanding how important it is to our culture, our agriculture, and to our tourism.

Quality tourism is often the result of travellers seeking meaningful and unique experiences at their destination. The combination of wine and gastronomy is a niche that appeals to a wide audience and fortunately the Maltese Islands have an exciting story to tell in this niche.

“The wine and gastronomy segment are a strong motivator of quality tourism that seeks a memorable experience, sustainable tourism operations and is also willing to spend more for the right product.  I strongly believe that Josef’s extensive knowledge and experience in the wine industry will help us develop this tourism product in cooperation with Malta and Gozo’s wine industry. Our objective is to provide our guests with an unforgettable experience and at the same time establish Malta and Gozo on the international wine scene”, Carlo Micallef, MTA's CEO expressed.

Good luck to Josef Bonello on his new role!