With over 20 Maltese and Gozitan wines to choose from at the upcoming Delicata Classic Wine Festival, held at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, from August 10 to 13, the choice can become a bit overwhelming.
Yet the vast selection offers the perfect occasion to explore the many different styles of quality wines on show, especially if you keep a few tips in mind.
Firstly, I suggest visiting the winery’s informative site www.delicata.com and see how it all works and what has changed for this year’s edition.
Tasting the wines remains straightforward. Just purchase a souvenir glass (which is yours to keep) together with a wine purse for €15. The wine purse comes filled with 24 wine coins which replace the customary event wristband. Handing over the correct amount of coins will prompt a wine steward to serve you a 150ml pouring. That is the standard volume you would get in most wine bars and restaurants.
Secondly, I recommend you plan your way around the stalls in a ‘wine-wise and palate-friendly’ manner.
Connoisseurs agree on a conventional order in which wines are best sampled and it makes quite a bit of sense to stick to it. Start with sparkling wine, drink white and pink before red, dry wines before sweeter ones and unwooded wines before bigger, bolder oaky examples. This way a wine is never overwhelmed by one that preceded it.
You will receive a free festival brochure at the entrance with a detailed list of the wines and where to find them in the gardens and it also tells you how much currency each wine holds.
The charge ranges from six wine coins for a glass of the flagship selections Gran Cavalier and Grand Vin de Hauteville, four coins for a serving of a wine in the Frizzante, Maltese Falcon, Medina and Victoria Heights collections to three coins for a pouring of Pjazza Regina, Classic Collection and Dolcino wines.
Don’t limit yourself to only trying labels you know already because you will miss out on expanding your palate and wine horizons while you have the chance.
Finally, also remember to eat and drink lots of water. There will be plenty of food dishes at the festival sold at reasonable prices. Make sure you hydrate before you start tasting and drink water in between sips of wine. This will keep your palate fresh and primed to experience all the wonderful flavours.
Sample wine in moderation and enjoy the entertainment. Indeed, every evening there is a double bill of live music starting with an opening-night concert by WaterWings and Red Electrick.
The Delicata Classic Wine Festival kicks off in less than two weeks, on Thursday, August 10, and will wave the flag for Maltese wine for the 16th consecutive time for four evenings until Sunday, August 13, from 7pm to midnight.
Fast track facility
Delicata Privilege Card Holders may use the Classic Wine Festival fast track facility provided they have pre-booked and paid the festival fee online through the winery’s website www.delicata.com. As a special sign of appreciation for their loyal custom and support, the Delicata Winery is surprising their Privilege Card Holders with an extra little treat put in their little wine purse this year.
Getting to the gardens is possible from the main entrance to the right of Castille Hotel. But another swift way is using the Upper Barrakka Lift, linking the Grand Harbour directly to the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
The journey takes around 25 seconds, making it the quickest way to Delicata’s Classic Wine Festival from the Valletta Waterfront. It is a practical alternative for cruise ship passengers who disembark at the Valletta Passenger Terminal to partake in the event. The fee is €1 per person, payable on your way up. The lift will be operating each night until the end of the wine festival. Private taxis also service the venue.