A wine competition and exhibition, a photography and a painting exhibition, several artesian stands and much more will be organised concurrently with the Qormi Wine Festival, to be held in Qormi on 30 and 31 August.

The popular wine competition, now in its eighth year, is once again open to all wine-making enthusiasts from around Malta who would like to show off their homemade varieties. Last year’s edition, which was the most popular so far, attracted more than 100 wine varieties, turning this annual event into the mostly sought after of its kind. The competition will be held on the festival opening night, that is Friday 30 August at 8pm with the results to be declared on the same night.

A professional team of judges will assess the wines on display and declare the winners with prizes awarded for the first three placing for each category. The competition consists of six categories: Best dry white wine (Category A), Best dry red wine (Category B), Best dry rosé wine (Category C), Best white and red sweet wine (Category D), Best fruit wine (excluding grape varieties – Category E) and Best wine produced in Qormi falling under Categories A and B. The competition will be held in the Main Street, close to St George’s church. Those wishing to participate can contact Peter Farrugia on 2167 7331, 7967 7331 or call at the organising committee’s premises in Rock Street, Qormi and collect an application form.

The organising committee’s premises will be converted into an exhibition space that recreates the atmosphere inside a typical traditional wine bar, very common in the Maltese Islands at the turn of the century. Ta’ Kurun Wine Bar will be set up complete with old wooden barrels, wooden stools and an authentic wooden bar, together with the participation of actors from the Anici Theatrical Company, who will be re-enacting scenes of a typical village wine bar. Wall panels will display historical information about the wine traditions of Qormi, a village well known for its wine-making culture. This particular exhibition will open prior to the festival and will remain open until Saturday, 31 August.

One of the alleys will be transformed into a temporary exhibition hall, featuring paintings by Daniel Scerri on the Byzantine style. The artist uses different media to create his works, alternating between wood panels ranging from wooden doors and other boards that come to hand, as well as stone on canvas.

Another alley, in the same street, will feature a photographic exhibition with works by Christopher Azzopardi, displaying photos, having crafts as a common underlying theme and also photos which came first in competitions.

Along Main Street numerous stands will be displaying various Maltese traditional crafts such as straw-making objects, bizzilla, ganutell, filigree, hand-made jewellery and tapestry.

Entrance to the wine festival is free of charge and ample parking facilities are available.

The Qormi Wine Festival is once again being organised by the Kumitat Festi Esterni San Gorg Martri, Qormi (AD 1919) in collaboration with the Qormi local council.

For more information, one can contact the organisers on 7906 2455; email [email protected]