Here’s How The Lovin Malta Team Became Wine Experts In One Night

You know those people who seem to know what they’re doing when they look over a wine menu? The same ones that shake and sniff before sipping and confirming that the wine is drinkable? We are them. 

But we weren’t always them.

It’s only thanks to Laurent Bernard Count de la Gatinais – the owner of Rapitala Winery – that we’ve upped our vino-vernacular. Last night we went down to The Store, where he talked us through six of his best-selling wines and gave us a brief history about how Rapitala came about. We now know at least five wine facts that we can throw around at any given dinner party. #AdultingHacks

A girl, a guy, and a wine estate

Like many amazing things, the Rapitala estate started with a love story. One French guy (Hugues Bernard Comte de la Gatinais) fell for one Sicilian woman (Gigi Guarrasi) – this was never going to end up not being about wine. 

Set up in 1968 after an earthquake which shook Sicily on the strength of Gigi’s powers of persuasion, the couple relocated to the island and the Rapitala Winery was born from the ashes. 

The family-run estate is near Alcamo and is one of the oldest wine estates in Sicily and one of the first to introduce French grape varieties to the island in the 1970’s. It has been passed down by generations and is now run by their son Laurent Bernard Count de la Gatinais (our tutor), who happens to love Malta and has been coming here since he was 17 years old. 

Wine and passion: always a good combo

De La Gatinais travels around the world to share his passion for wine, conducting tasting evenings like the one we attended. He is a warm and vibrant man and his love for wine is completely infectious. He describes Rapitala as Sicilian wine with a French flair. So basically, everything a wine-drinker could ever dream of.

Wine, passion, and affordability: an even better combo

Possibly the most important thing we learnt about the Rapitala range is how reasonably priced it is. Life-translation: you can pick out a Rapitala wine to impress your date/dinner guest/self with nauseating confidence that it will be tasty AF and won’t break the bank. Rapitala is one of Italy’s best-selling wines with over 3 million bottles produced in total. 

And if you fancy picking a bottle right now, we’ve put together a brief description of what’s available. Because we’re totally experts now. 

Alcamo, I Templi – Tenuta Rapitala 

This one’s distinctive taste is a perfect companion for Mediterranean food. Olives, capers, pasta with tomatoes and anchovies – divine with this one. #SundayLunchSorted

Bouquet – Tenuta Rapitala 
This was Hugues Bernard Comte’s (the founder we spoke about before) fave. We can see why – it’s an awesome summer wine, very easy to drink. Great with fish and perfect to sip on a boat in the sunshine. 

Grand Cru  – Tenuta Rapitala
This is possibly Rapitala’s most iconic product – rich and elegant, it’s perfect to take to dinner parties as a gift for a friend (read: keep for yourself for the most decadent Netflix-binge night in ever).

Nero D’Avola I Templi – Tenuta Rapitala
If you like your wine spicy and smooth, this one’s for you. It’s perfect for unwinding after a long day at work. 

Campo Reale – Tenuta Rapitala 
Pair with lamb or with tuna steak, or bring to a dinner party where someone else is cooking those things. It’s delicious when slightly chilled in summer. 

Nuhar – Tenuta Rapitala 
This one’s going to work beautifully with Maltese dishes such as Rabbit and Bragoli. Super rich and bold. #Winegasm

You know you want to 

By now you’re almost certainly crazy impressed by our immense wine-brains. Well, you can become a wine connoisseur just as easily. Tasting events like this are open to the public and cost just €15 to attend, and you get to walk away with a bottle of wine to take home and share with your friends. How epic is that?

So if you’re game for tasting three reds and three whites, in a great atmosphere, with a selection of divine cheese and cold meat – get involved.

Or…

Treat yourself tonight to an even more delicious (yet equally as educational) Wine & Dine evening. This will be a dinner with Laurent Bernard Count de la Gatinais, who will present the same amazing selection of wines from his estate.

But there’s an epic bonus: the wines will be accompanied by a six-course tasting menu created by Chef Noel Azzopardi. It’s happening at Zest and it’s going to be as fancy as they get It’s just €58.50 per person, including wines, water and coffee – get more info from the Facebook event.