Delicata to hold classic wine festival

Emmanuel Delicata winemaker is to hold a Classic Wine Festival at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta on August 10 and 11 to celebrate the beginning of the Maltese grape harvest.

Wine lovers will be invited to taste the vast range of wines that will be on offer.

The festival will actually begin on August 9 with an evening open to guests by invitation only. But it will then open its doors to the public over the rest of the weekend between 7 and 11.30 p.m.

Maltese gastronomic delicacies specifically chosen to complement the wine will be available.

A wine 'regatta' involving six boats and six horses and carriages will be held on Friday.

Six teams from Kalkara, Cospicua, Valletta, Marsa, Vittoriosa, Senglea will carry freshly harvested grapes on six boats across Grand Harbour from St Angelo to the point in front of Barbara Bastions, where the grapes will be passed on to horses and carts belonging to each team.

The horses will race up to the entrance of the Upper Barrakka Gardens, culminating in a grape pressing event.

The re-enactment of the ancient practice of grape pressing will be held during both nights that the festival will be open to the public.

Live entertainment will also be provided throughout the festival.

On the Saturday, visitors will be treated to a spectacular fireworks display from the feast of St Lawrence across Grand Harbour at Vittoriosa.

Entrance to the festival is free, although anybody wishing to taste the variety of wines will have to purchase an official wine festival glass. The glass may be kept as a souvenir.