The 15th Delicata Classic Wine Festival
Malta’s greatest wine event of the year is back for its 15th consecutive edition, at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th August 2016, every evening from 7pm until midnight, and it promises to be grander than ever.
Balmy, starlit Maltese summer nights, delectable wines, great music and friendly hospitality, the Delicata Classic Wine Festival, organised by Malta’s foremost winery, is all rolled into one.
It is the showcase for Malta’s wines par excellence. The enchanted atmosphere, the breath-taking views of the world-class venue that is the Grand Harbour and the floodlit three cities will make anyone’s visit truly memorable.
In all there are 24 wines to sample as often as one likes. 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 very rare native old bush vines Girgentina and Ġellewża, a selection of delectable white, red and rosé DOK Malta Medina and DOK Gozo Victoria Heights boutique wines, noble mono-varietals of the iconic flagship Gran Cavalier selection and Malta’s most internationally awarded Grand Vin de Hauteville range.
Besides the sweeter lifestyle Dolcino and the exclusive Maltese Falcon wines, the popular lush Casella Moscato and other varietals of the Classic Collection, all three of the Pjazza Reġina wines crafted in tribute to Valletta, Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2018, will also be on show to taste.
The way it works is straightforward. Entrance is free. To try the wines, you just purchase a wristband for the night and a personal souvenir glass for €14. As if it were a wine lover’s magic wand, showing the wristband at a wine stand will prompt dedicated wine stewards to pour a 60 ml taster of the wine on show in the bespoke festival glass. Strictly no wine will be served to anyone under 17 and patrons are reminded to enjoy responsibly. The last glasses and wristbands are sold at 11pm, the last wine poured at 11.30pm and the festival closes at midnight.
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 sushi by MedAsia. There are also various cheese and charcuterie platters as well as desserts to try and match to see for yourself how compatible and versatile Delicata wines are with a variety of cuisines.
New is that this special 15th edition sees the introduction of a fast track facility for Delicata Privilege Card holders. They need not queue at the cash points provided they have pre-booked online through the winery’s website. A Delicata hostess will swiftly hand them their glass, festival wristband and booklet right inside the gates of the gardens.
Another first is Salute! which is a fully-seated al fresco wine and fine dining experience laid on at the reserved, lower level of the Saluting Battery on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Salute! offers a delicious menu of plated dishes and matching wines, all served under the starry sky over the Grand Harbour which is steeped in history to which every course and each glass aspire to add a new enjoyable chapter. It is organised by the Delicata winery in close collaboration with Island Caterers. Event tickets are sold at €45 per person.
Festival revellers will be entertained by live performers. Presenter Mireille Bonello will compere. Every evening there is a double-bill starting with an opening-night concert on Thursday by Cash & Band and Red Electrick, followed on Friday by Planet Seed and the Spiteri Lucas Band, bands Xarulù and The Crowns play on Saturday, whilst on Sunday Relick and the George Curmi Band, aka il-Puse, will once again bring the greatest wine event of the year to a close.
