(Empty bottles? Disposal and report. Go & joyn: www://https.drink.wineparty.wine)
by Leo Quarda & Editorial Team
I land in Malta. First Cyprus, then Malta – two Mediterranean islands, but only Malta had this special 29th anniversary of GastroBizz : around 400 restaurateurs in full occupation. Me: armed with wines. Them: dehydrated and thirsty. Me: pouring out hectolitres – daily from 08:00 to 03:00, tinkling along, drinking in solidarity.
An evening at Hammett’s Mestizo in St. Julian’s: the Caribbean meets the Andes meets Vienna. Great company, culinary escalation – and wines you don’t quickly forget. A must-visit. See for yourself: hammettsmestizo.com
Naturally, the local food market was also on the agenda – where Maltese wines beckoned to be tasted. Winegrowing in Malta dates back to antiquity, influenced by the Greeks, Romans and Arabs – a history spanning thousands of years, now flourishing again. Today Malta produces sustainable quality wines to EU standards (DOK Malta or DOK Gozo) as well as IĠT Maltese Islands
Local grape varieties such as Girgentina (white) and Ġellewża (red) immediately caught my attention: floral, fresh, sparkling, with fine acidity – perfect late-summer party drops. The Girgentina from La Torre was a “fun wine” par excellence, and yes – it was promptly polished off.
Freshly researched: wine hotspots in Malta
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Meridiana Wine Estate: Malta’s largest winery, producing exclusively local grapes – around 100,000–140,000 bottles annually. Tour, tasting and local tapas included – a fantastic opportunity to learn about history, culture and grape growing.
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Emmanuel Delicata Winery: Tradition since 1907, Malta’s oldest family winery. Offers DOK and IĠT wines, often along with events and workshops. Sustainable projects such as “Vines for Wines” promote local production.
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Marsovin Cellars: Founded in 1919, closely related to Delicata, producing traditional and modern wines, including Cassar de Malte, the local “Champagne”.
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Ta’ Mena Winery: Small but excellent – rustic and authentic, set within Gozitan cuisine and culture. Perfect for island-hopping with wine charm.
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Tal-Massar Winery: Boutique cellar with a terrace and a selection of artisanal wines. Ideal for tranquil tastings overlooking Gozo’s wine landscape Be.hotelVerdi Hotels.
For relaxed wine drinking in bars and restaurants:
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ION by Simon Rogan: Two Michelin stars, a fantastic location overlooking the Grand Harbour and an incredibly well-considered wine list – excitement guaranteed.
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Country Terrace: Over 500 wine labels, Mediterranean cuisine with far-reaching views – pure wine pleasure high above Comino Island.
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Further recommendations: Fernando Gastrotheque, Gracy’s Arts and Supper Club, Onella – all with an excellent selection of Maltese wines starwinelist.com.
Also popular: Razzett l-Antik, as part of such typical “Three Cities & Wine” tours through Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua – including a tasting with local snacks in historic buildings.
Why Malta?
Malta is a very, very small country with a great history: 3,000+ years of winegrowing, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs – and today a renaissance in modern quality. With only around 800 hectares of vineyards, the wine rarely remains exportable – so: tasting it on site is the order of the day.
The DOK designation guarantees local origin and controlled quality: DOK Malta, DOK Gozo and IĠT Maltese Islands – often with Girgentina, Ġellewża, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah in the wine glass.
Conclusion
Malta is definitely worth a visit – enjoy it as a short trip or over a week. The wine scene is small but excellent, young and deeply traditional at the same time. Meridiana, Delicata, Marsovin, Gozo boutiques – they all invite you to tour, talk and taste. Combined with magnificent settings: Valletta, medieval Mdina, the shimmer of Comino’s lagoons, Mediterranean cuisine and Baroque magic.