Malta
Maltese wine is not well known elsewhere so trying Maltese wine is one of the pleasures of a trip to Malta, as well as sampling Maltese cuisine.
We had our first taste of Maltese wine on the evening of our arrival, in the bar of the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Restaurants
Then we paired wine with food at the Legligin restaurant. The restaurant name means glug-glug.
After eating here I went back next day to meet the owner, Chris.
We had researched the wineries on Malta before going there and had received a reply and invitation to call from the Marsovin winery in Valletta, the capital of Malta.
Malta
The Winery, Wills Street, Marsa, Malta.
Marsvin.com
In the entrance you see the old cart which was pulled by a horse and used to deliver wine to customers in the old days.
Upstairs in the tasting room you see the artwork used for the bottle labels - commissioned from local artists, different each year.
Excellent tour of the 400 year old cellars below, years ago used by the Knights of St John. You learn about the grapes, the wine development and the bottling and corks.
Up the spiral staircase - to finish with the wine tasting. In addition to the wines you get a few snacks such as cheese.
The tour and tasting costs about 10 Euros. Prices are different if you do this tour as part of a package with a coach pick up.
Gozo
Ta'Mean Estate, Gozo
On the main road from Victoria to Marsalforn Bay.
www.tamena-gozo.com
The owner is friendly and so keen to tell you about his wine business. Outside the bleating goat and trotting peacock are trying to get attention.
Their leaflet says, 'Every Saturday, weather permitting, we do a tour of the estate followed by a wine and traditional food tasting session. Pre-booking is recommended.'
Airport - Last Chance!
At the airport we had a last chance to look at the wine, now with greater knowledge, recognising the grape varieties and wine makers. We did not want any more wine, having already bought enough, not just the cost but the weight, both carrying it and not being overweight with luggage restrictions on Ryanair. However, how could we resist the tempting bottles.
Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker
Wine Festivals
EVENTS
Wine Festivals are held every year on both Malta and Gozo.
Marsovin summer wine festival.
The Marsovin tour guide told us they hold a wine festival in the second week in July with wine, pop up restaurants or food stalls, Maltese food, pasta, sushi, and entertainers, four or five bands, from 7 pm until sunset, in a public garden in Valletta. Contact them if you are interested. You can see pictures of the last event on their website.
....................................
Aug 6-9 2015, 7 pm to midnight
Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta.
Buy a souvenir glass and wristband and get tastings.
Maltese grapes are Girgentina and Gezlewza.
More details from delicate.com/nadur-gozo-2015
Local food specialities likely to be available include fried rabbit.
www.visitmalta.com
trabuxu wine bar, 1 Strait Street Valletta
www.trabuxu.com.mt
tel 2122 3036.
run bearded Kris Fenech Soler.
Tues-Sat 7.30 til late,
email info@trabuxu.com.mt
Look for the What's on in .January / February / ... December (whichever month you are visiting) which may contain discount coupons as well as handy maps.
See my post on hotels for restaurants with good food, notably Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta, Malta, and on the smaller island of Gozo, The Kempinsky Hotel.
I've seen advertisements for but not yet tried:
De Robertis Rooftop Restaurant, entrance through Castille Hotel, Castille Square, Valletta, Malta.
Tel:21243678, 21220173.
www.hotelcastillemalta.com
email: info@hotelcastillemalta.com
Highest point in Valletta. Near Upper Barrakka Gardens. In February their advertisement offered a free bottle of local wine for 2 persons booking lunch or dinner on presentation of the advertisement.
Maltese wine is not well known elsewhere so trying Maltese wine is one of the pleasures of a trip to Malta, as well as sampling Maltese cuisine.
We had our first taste of Maltese wine on the evening of our arrival, in the bar of the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Restaurants
Then we paired wine with food at the Legligin restaurant. The restaurant name means glug-glug.
During the day we passed it and we booked dinner in the evening, and came back to try the tasting menu including fish, Malta being an island, and rabbit, which is a local speciality.
I suggest you splash some cash on the truffles, as we did, three per person, absolutely wonderful.
We had researched the wineries on Malta before going there and had received a reply and invitation to call from the Marsovin winery in Valletta, the capital of Malta.
Malta
The Winery, Wills Street, Marsa, Malta.
Marsvin.com
In the entrance you see the old cart which was pulled by a horse and used to deliver wine to customers in the old days.
Upstairs in the tasting room you see the artwork used for the bottle labels - commissioned from local artists, different each year.
Excellent tour of the 400 year old cellars below, years ago used by the Knights of St John. You learn about the grapes, the wine development and the bottling and corks.
Up the spiral staircase - to finish with the wine tasting. In addition to the wines you get a few snacks such as cheese.
The tour and tasting costs about 10 Euros. Prices are different if you do this tour as part of a package with a coach pick up.
Gozo
Ta'Mean Estate, Gozo
On the main road from Victoria to Marsalforn Bay.
www.tamena-gozo.com
What are you interested in? Red wine? White wine? Tomato jam?
The owner is friendly and so keen to tell you about his wine business. Outside the bleating goat and trotting peacock are trying to get attention.
Their leaflet says, 'Every Saturday, weather permitting, we do a tour of the estate followed by a wine and traditional food tasting session. Pre-booking is recommended.'
Airport - Last Chance!
At the airport we had a last chance to look at the wine, now with greater knowledge, recognising the grape varieties and wine makers. We did not want any more wine, having already bought enough, not just the cost but the weight, both carrying it and not being overweight with luggage restrictions on Ryanair. However, how could we resist the tempting bottles.
Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker
The red bottle has the red wine and the white bottle has the white wine. These wines are not too alcoholic, only 11.5% for the white and 12.5% for the red, so you can drink more of the white without getting too tipsy. As the back of the bottle tells you the wine is produced and bottled for the Nuance Group by Emmanuel Delicata winemaker at the Winery on the Waterfront at Paolo.
I thought the red and white bottles were rather jolly, to display when talking about my travels or Maltese wine to a group such as Toastmasters International Speakers clubs. Afterwards when the wine has been drunk, you have a rather jolly pair of bottles to display or use as flower vases.
Wine Festivals
EVENTS
Wine Festivals are held every year on both Malta and Gozo.
Marsovin summer wine festival.
The Marsovin tour guide told us they hold a wine festival in the second week in July with wine, pop up restaurants or food stalls, Maltese food, pasta, sushi, and entertainers, four or five bands, from 7 pm until sunset, in a public garden in Valletta. Contact them if you are interested. You can see pictures of the last event on their website.
....................................
Aug 6-9 2015, 7 pm to midnight
Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta.
Buy a souvenir glass and wristband and get tastings.
Maltese grapes are Girgentina and Gezlewza.
More details from delicate.com/nadur-gozo-2015
Local food specialities likely to be available include fried rabbit.
www.visitmalta.com
trabuxu wine bar, 1 Strait Street Valletta
www.trabuxu.com.mt
tel 2122 3036.
run bearded Kris Fenech Soler.
Tues-Sat 7.30 til late,
email info@trabuxu.com.mt
Look for the What's on in .January / February / ... December (whichever month you are visiting) which may contain discount coupons as well as handy maps.
See my post on hotels for restaurants with good food, notably Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta, Malta, and on the smaller island of Gozo, The Kempinsky Hotel.
I've seen advertisements for but not yet tried:
De Robertis Rooftop Restaurant, entrance through Castille Hotel, Castille Square, Valletta, Malta.
Tel:21243678, 21220173.
www.hotelcastillemalta.com
email: info@hotelcastillemalta.com
Highest point in Valletta. Near Upper Barrakka Gardens. In February their advertisement offered a free bottle of local wine for 2 persons booking lunch or dinner on presentation of the advertisement.
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