Malta: Wine & chocolate pairing with local guide

Summary

Savoring Malta’s flavors: wine, chocolate, and unexpected laughter

You’ll taste four Maltese wines paired with five handmade chocolates while a local guide shares stories behind each flavor. Expect laughter over surprising pairings (like Girgentina with white chocolate), small group conversation, and a relaxed pace that lets you soak up both flavors and local culture — memories you’ll carry home long after your last sip.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed wasn’t the wine — it was the smell of cocoa in the air, kind of rich and sweet but not overwhelming. We’d just sat down at this long wooden table in Malta, sunlight coming through the shutters, and our guide (her name was Marisa) handed us glasses of Gellewza. I’d never heard of it before. She smiled and said, “Just wait until you try it with the dark chocolate.” I was skeptical — I mean, wine and chocolate? But then she explained how these Maltese grapes grow in rocky soil under all that sun, and suddenly the whole thing felt less like a tasting and more like a story.

There were five chocolates lined up on my plate — some dusted with cocoa, one almost too pretty to eat. The Girgentina white wine surprised me most; it tasted bright, almost citrusy, and when I tried it with the creamy white chocolate Marisa suggested, I actually laughed out loud. Didn’t expect that combo to work at all. The group was quiet for a second after that first pairing — you could hear someone’s chair scrape on the tile — then everyone started comparing notes about which flavor hit hardest. It felt easy to talk to strangers over something as simple as chocolate.

I kept looking at the way Marisa described each wine — her hands moving in little circles when she talked about “the bouquet,” which sounded fancier than how I’d ever talk about wine back home. She told us little things about Maltese winemaking traditions, like how some families still pick grapes by hand. At one point she tried to teach us how to pronounce “Gellewza” properly; Li from our group tried it in Mandarin first and we all ended up laughing so hard we nearly spilled our drinks. That moment stuck with me more than any tasting note.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Wine and Chocolate Tasting

• Wine & chocolate pairing experience

Top questions

How many wines are included in the Maltese wine & chocolate pairing?

The experience includes four different Maltese wines.

Are there handmade chocolates included in this Malta tasting?

Yes, five handmade chocolates are paired with the wines during the tasting.

Is there a local guide during the Malta wine & chocolate tour?

Yes, a local guide leads the tasting and shares information about each pairing.

Are service animals allowed on this Malta wine experience?

Yes, service animals are allowed during this activity.

Can infants or small children join this Maltese wine & chocolate tour?

Infants and small children can attend if they are in a pram or stroller.

Is public transportation available nearby for this Malta tasting?

Yes, there are public transportation options available nearby.

Is this activity recommended for pregnant travelers?

No, it is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to alcohol consumption.

What’s included

Your day includes guided tastings of four locally crafted Maltese wines expertly paired with five artisanal chocolates; everything is provided at the venue so you just show up ready to taste and enjoy good company before heading out into Malta’s sunshine again.