Delicata wine festival starts tonight

The Delicata Classic Wine Festival, welcoming the Maltese wine harvest, is taking place at the beautiful Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta this weekend.

The 8th Delicata Classic Wine Festival, which attracts thousands of people over its four-day period, will be open to the public as from tonight between 7 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.

Visitors buy a glass, which they keep, for €10 at the entrance and then drink and try as many wines as they like.

There will be a wide range of D.O.K. Malta and Gozo quality wines from a number of grapes varieties such as Syrah, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Sangiovese, Vermentino,Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and the two unique indigenous Maltese grapes Girgentina and Gellewza.

A new range of Maltese I.G.T. wines, Pjazza Regina will also be on show. Food areas will have a range of international dishes, two speciality areas with Maltese cuisine and an Oriental pavilion. A fully seated restaurant area located in the Saluting Battery will also be in operation. Reservations, on tel. 2375 1930 or 2375 1944, are recommended.

There will be live entertainment each night with performers including George (Puse) Curmi and band, William Mangion and band, Big Band Brothers, Spiteri Lucas band and Steve Cole.

Between September 4 and 6, the festival will move to the viticultural heart of Gozo, Nadur.

A shuttle service from Mgarr Harbour to Nadur will be available throughout the festival at €2 per person return trip. Delicata's Classic Wine Festivals are organised in collaboration with the Valletta and Nadur councils. It is sponsored by GO and Bank of Valletta.

www.delicata.com