Delicata will launch a limited edition Merlot during its Classic Wine Festival which will be held at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta between Thursday and Sunday.

As grape harvesting progresses, the festival will feature a range of wines bearing the Denominazzjoni Ta' Oriġini Kontrollata (DOK) certificate, Bill Hermitage, Delicata's viticulture expert, said.

To sample wine at the festival, a souvenir glass must be purchased from the door at a cost of €10. Tickets, excluding the souvenir glass, will also be available for €2. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

The festival will feature live entertainment, featuring Steve Cole, William Mangion, Joe Brown, Ivan and Mark Spiteri Lucas and George Curmi, also known as Pusé.

Island Caterers will be serving a selection of food.

Asian food and a seated restaurant will also be available. Tickets to dine there can be purchased from the top of the flight of steps leading down to the restaurant at €25 per person.

The festival will also mark the launch of Delicata's DOK limited edition Merlot, Kastilja. Since the amount of bottles produced are limited, this will be on sale rather than available for sampling. Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli explained that wine and the capital have an interesting connection. "Wine was abolished before the arrival of the Order of St John. But after their arrival, wine production was re-introduced together with the construction of Valletta." Delicata will be holding another Classic Wine Festival in Nadur, between August 22 and 24.