Several hundreds of people visited P. Cutajar’s sixth Wine Experience at the charming Razzett l-Abjad in San Gwann. This annual celebration of viticulture is popular among Maltese wine lovers who know that at this event they can sample over 30 wines from different wine-making regions of the world in the perfect ambience.

With the help of their foreign partners P. Cutajar put up their usual show of force. Wine experts from the different estates chatted informally with patrons. Franco Brezza and Paolo Cugudda from Martini, Cecilia Pasqua from Pasqua, Marion Lopez from Laroche, Erica Abate from Bersano, Edward Leach from Bouchard Aine et Fils and Aurelie Page from Grand Chais de France took to their wine stands and were most helpful in describing the wines patrons were sampling. They regaled visitors with whites aged in French oak barriques, bold reds from Burgundy and Puglia, light and fruity summer sparkling rose’, brut and prosecco, among many others.

This year the Wine Experience also introduced a new range of Maltese wines on the market - Sarosa wines from the Maria Rosa Winery, for whom P. Cutajar are exclusive distributors. Maria Rosa Winery is located in Mriehel, limits of Attard. It is a small family run winery with 4.2 hectares of vines surrounded by agricultural land and growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Sirakuzan. Wine production started in 2008 yielding 12,000 bottles. Bottling started in 2011 after letting the wine age in French oak barrels in the cellars. The 2008 production is DOK certified. Tina Lino and Roland Cassar introduced Sarosa to wine lovers eager to sample new local produce.

Patrons who wanted a special treat booked for the Fine Wines Tutorial, a first-time event for P. Cutajar which, judging by the booking numbers, will be repeated. Hosted passionately by Sommelier John Zahra and Bouchard Aine et Fils, guests delighted their taste buds with a Nuits Saint-George, a Gevrey Chambertin from the 2007 vintage, a 2006 Pommard and Meursault, a 2008 Puligny-Montrrachet and a Pouilly-Fuisse from the 2009 vintage. This special tutorial complemented another three tutorials held concurrently at which people sat and listened attentively to the enthusiastic wine masters who swirled their glasses with gusto and shared tips on tasting.