16th Delicata Classic Wine Festival Waves The Flag For Maltese Wine
Wine coins will be the common currency at this summer’s Delicata Classic Wine Festival, exchangeable for glasses of delightful wines. Each one of the four wine-and-joy filled evenings promises to be as magical as ever with a great line-up of wine, food and music.
Organised by Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker, Malta’s greatest wine experience of the year is back for its 16th consecutive edition. As always, it takes place over four nights at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta and the dates are from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th August 2017, every evening from 7pm until midnight.
Balmy, starlit Maltese summer sunsets, delicious wines, great music and friendly hospitality, the Delicata Classic Wine Festival is all rolled into one.
To try the wines, all you have to do is purchase a little wine purse which comes filled with 24 wine coins and complete with a souvenir glass which is yours to keep. The fee is €15 payable at the entrance of the venue.
Handing over the correct change of wine coins at the stalls inside will prompt dedicated wine stewards to pour a standard 150 ml glass of the wine on show in the festival glass.
A Delicata festival wine purse and bespoke wine coins.
Since the winery is committed to sustainable practices, Delicata has sourced environmental-friendly coins made from a starch-based material extracted from potato peel which, if left exposed to natural elements, will fully biodegrade.
Different wines hold different currency. The charge ranges from 6 wine coins for a glass of the flagship Gran Cavalier and Grand Vin de Hauteville selections to 3 coins for a pouring of other quality wines. The marked coins are valid for one night only; they may be kept as a memento.
In all there are over 20 wines to sample. Vintages of nine Delicata award-winning brands are served from as many stalls spread along the garden’s periphery.
These include the semi-sparkling Frizzantes made from the native old bush vines Girgentina and Ġellewża. There is a selection of tasty white, red and rosé DOK Malta Medina and DOK Gozo Victoria Heights boutique wines. Also available are noble mono-varietals of the iconic flagship Gran Cavalier selection and Malta’s most internationally awarded Grand Vin de Hauteville range.
Besides all these, you can also taste the sweeter lifestyle Dolcino and the exclusive Maltese Falcon wines, the popular lush Casella Moscato and other varietals of the Classic Collection, and all three of the Pjazza Reġina wines.
Live cooking stalls will be serving a tempting variety of both traditional Maltese and international dishes to tease a wide range of palates. Maltese favourites are prepared by Maypole, Indian dishes by Gate of India and other oriental dishes by Asian House. There are also various cheese and charcuterie platters by Catermax as well as desserts.
Presenter Mireille Bonello will compere the live entertainment. Every evening there is a double-bill starting with an opening-night concert on Thursday by WaterWings and Red Electrick. The Busker and the Spiteri Lucas Band perform on Friday, Planet Seed and The Crowns play on Saturday, and Cash & Band and The Travellers will bring the wine event of the year to a close on Sunday.
Delicata Privilege Card holders may use the fast track facility provided they have pre-booked online through the winery’s website.
Whilst entrance is free, strictly no wine will be served to anyone under 17 and patrons are reminded to enjoy responsibly. Wine purses and glasses are sold until 11 pm, wine is poured up to 11.30 pm and the festival closes at midnight.
More info can be found on www.delicata.com.
