Meridiana Wine Estate — Wine Tasting, Vineyard Tour and Maltese Platter Near Mdina

Why Meridiana is worth building into a Malta afternoon

Malta has a handful of serious wine producers, and most visitors come across the bigger names on restaurant lists before they ever set foot in a vineyard. Meridiana is one of those names — but unlike many producers, it is one of the few proper wine estates, and one of the few places where you can combine vineyard views, a working winery tour, underground barrel cellars, and a proper tasting in a single visit.

The estate sits in the Ta’ Qali area, just below Malta’s old capital Mdina, on ground that was once an RAF airfield during the Second World War. If you are already visiting Mdina — and you should be — adding Meridiana to the same half-day is straightforward.

Meridiana’s vineyards at Ta’ Qali — the estate sits on the site of a former WW2 RAF airfield

Visitors consistently highlight a few things: the personal, guided format of the tour, the size of the food platter (several describe it as closer to a full lunch than a snack), and the relaxed terrace setting with views across the vines toward Mdina. There is also a resident cat called Nutmeg, who has developed a following of his own.

We put a set of questions to the Meridiana team about what visitors can expect, which wines to start with, and what tends to surprise people who are tasting Maltese wine for the first time. Their answers are unedited — exactly as they gave them.

What visitors discover when they arrive at Meridiana

Our introduction starts with a little basic history and timeline about Maltese wine making. We explain how it all started at Meridiana and how along the years, through proper production practises, we have come to produce some wines which are comparable to very high quality foreign wines.

Since Malta is absolutely not known as a wine producing country, most visitors are both surprised and impressed with the quality of our wines. The right levels of acidity and alcohol content of the wines, the minerality thanks to limestone rich soils, the tropical fruit aromas in our Chardonnay, finesse and elegance of our red wine and the salty note in our Vermentino which goes so well with fresh seafood and shellfish.

The winery building was built in a shape of a Maltese farmhouse, using local chalk-coloured limestone

Not being known as a wine producing country, expectations from wine loving visitors are not usually very high. Once they visit and taste our wines, visitors opinions tend to change very quickly. Here they learn first hand what the very much talked about Mediterranean influence is all about. Most, if not all, would have never heard about Maltese wine before, so very often visitors are genuinely surprised and very satisfied with the quality of our wines.

The estate, the cellars and the wines

Immensely. Most wine drinkers don’t have the full picture of what it takes to produce a bottle of premium wine, even more on an island with very limited resources. The challenges we face from lack of rain, extreme heat and climate change are real. We explain measures we take, both in the vineyard and the winery, to obtain the high quality wines Meridiana is renowned for. We try to make sure that our visitors leave with a little more knowledge than they had when they entered.

The underground barrel cellars — part of the guided tour that visitors walk through before the tasting

All our wines are distinct in their own way, but if we have to chose only one, it will have to be our Isis DOK Malta, which is a 100% unoaked Chardonnay, a wine which is also rich in tropical fruit aromas, reflecting the very warm summer Mediterranean climate. If I may, I would also like to add our Astarte DOK Malta, which is made of 100% Vermentino grapes, grown on vineyards in very close proximity to the sea, giving the wine a unique salty note. Our red wines such as Melqart (Cab/Merlot), Bel (Syrah) and Nexus (Merlot) also reflect our style, which is always a more fruit, less wood approach. Finesse, elegance and versatility make the wines enjoyable all year round.

Who visits Meridiana and what the experience is like

We have various types of visitors that range from cruise liner passengers, to groups brought over by local Destination Management Companies, individuals who see our ratings on social platforms such as Trip Advisor etc and book by email, and then there are the various (local and foreign) corporate and private events. We are very flexible, always trying to do our best for all our guests to enjoy their experience as much as possible. Needless to say a daytime visit is always recommended to better enjoy the vineyards views.

As mentioned earlier, Meridiana Wine Estate is one of the few estates where one can experience both the vineyards and the production areas (winery & underground cellars). We also produce only DOK Malta wines, which is the highest denomination (appellation) of local wines, so a visitor is guaranteed to taste premium wines. Our wines and the accompanying platters (including local cheeses, meats, local bread, water biscuits etc) offer great quality and very good value too. We are also very close to Malta’s old capital Mdina and the Ta’ Qali crafts village, all of which can be visited in the same afternoon/evening.

Our guests enjoy their wine tasting and platters on our vast covered terraces overlooking our vineyards with views of Mdina. In summer we open up, but we also have air conditioned areas for those who prefer, and in winter we cosy up while still enjoying the vineyards views. The atmosphere is smart, yet very casual and people love this. For the corporate customer, looking for something more personal, we also have private tasting rooms, both with their own terrace overlooking the vineyards.

The covered terrace — open in summer, cosy in winter, views over the vines year-round

Before you go — Meridiana at a glance

Practical notes for planning your visit

Booking. Email and phone both work. Short notice depends on availability. Booking ahead is always the safer approach, especially for groups or if you want the full guided experience.

The platter is substantial. Closer to a full lunch than a light accompaniment — cold meats, local cheeses, local (ftira) bread, olives, fruit and nuts. Vegan and vegetarian options are available if requested in advance.

What to wear. The setting is relaxed — described by Meridiana as “smart, yet very casual.” Comfortable closed shoes (sandals are allowed too, of course) and decent clothing are a sensible choice for the vineyard and cellar areas. Our Malta packing list covers what works across the island.

Sun and heat. If visiting between June and September, even though terraces are covered, the use of sunscreen is recommended. Air-conditioned indoor spaces are available.

Cruise passengers. Meridiana is a realistic half-day stop from the Valletta cruise terminal. You can visit Mdina and the estate together and be back at the port within 4–5 hours. A pre-booked taxi or private driver is the simplest way to manage the timing.

The vineyard at Ta’ Qali — daytime visits give the best sense of the landscape and setting

Arriving by car? Just set your Waze or Maps app to Meridiana Wine Estate and you will be brought directly to our gates. Drive all the way in, ample parking available on site.

Meridiana and the wider Maltese wine scene

Meridiana Wine Estate pioneered quality winemaking in Malta. Being one of the island’s established quality wine producers, it’s a strong starting point if you have not visited a Maltese winery before. The combination of vineyards, working production areas and underground barrel cellars in a single site is not something every producer can offer, and the personal, guided format means you leave understanding more about Maltese wine than you would from a restaurant tasting alone.

The estate’s focus on D.O.K. Malta wines — and its fruit-forward, lower-oak approach — gives a clear sense of what modern Maltese winemaking is doing. If the visit sparks your interest, Malta’s wine scene has grown considerably and there is more to explore across the islands. For the full overview — grape varieties, label categories, buying tips, and a wider look at what Malta and Gozo produce — see our main guide to the best wines in Malta.

FAQ

Is Meridiana suitable for a visit with children?

Children are welcome as long as they are well behaved. Children must stay with their parents at all times and are not to be left running around the table area to avoid disturbing other visitors. Families with children have visited without any issues. The terraces, estate grounds and open-air setting are pleasant for all ages. Going down to the underground cellars involves going down a spiral staircase, so keep that in mind with very young children. Pushchairs may be left in the reception. Nappy changing facilities are available too.

Aerial view of Meridiana Wine Estate

Last updated: March 2026.

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