Malta has a small but serious wine scene, from historic cellars near the Grand Harbour to family vineyards on Gozo’s terraced hillsides, and most tastings are better with someone beside you to compare notes with. If you are looking for someone to go to a wine tasting with in Malta, you do not need a big friend group. You need one clear plan, a tasting that takes bookings, and a short message that tells people exactly what to expect.
This guide covers the tastings people here actually book, the honest ways locals, expats, students and remote workers find company for them, what to write when you ask, and how to post or join a plan on MeetNow. It ends with a safety checklist, because wine and new people mix best when the basics are sorted first.
Wine tastings people in Malta actually book
Before you ask anyone, pick the tasting. A vague “we should do a wine thing some time” rarely turns into a plan. A specific “the tutored tasting in Marsa on a Saturday afternoon?” usually does, because the other person can check their calendar and say yes or no. These are options we have verified on the venues’ own websites.
Tutored tasting at Delicata, Marsa
Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker runs a Tutored Maltese Wine Tasting inside its historic wine vaults in Marsa, priced at €28.00 per person including VAT (Delicata). It is a seated, guided session presented in English, covering a selection of D.O.K. and I.G.T. quality wines served with traditional Maltese bread and local extra virgin olive oil. Booking is by online reservation only, and each session is capped at 18 participants (Delicata), so everyone in your plan needs a confirmed seat before the day.
This format works well for meeting someone new. It is structured, a guide does most of the talking, the group is small, and the wines give you an easy topic of conversation from the first glass.
Vineyard tour and tasting at Tal-Massar, Gozo
Tal-Massar Winery is a family-run boutique estate in Għarb, Gozo, offering guided vineyard tours with tastings of its single-estate wines and local snacks at €60 per person (Tal-Massar Winery). The session includes a walk through the terraced vineyards and a family-led explanation of Gozitan winemaking, so it suits people who want a slower, outdoor experience rather than a quick cellar visit. Because it means crossing to Gozo, it works best as part of a full day out; our guide to finding people to explore Gozo with has more ideas for planning that kind of day with new people.
Delicata Classic Wine Festival, Valletta
For something bigger and more relaxed, the Delicata Classic Wine Festival takes place in Valletta’s Upper Barrakka Gardens every August (Delicata). It runs on a wine-purse and token system rather than a seated tasting, which makes it an easy setting for a small group: you arrive together, wander between stands and leave whenever you like. It is a social, open-air gathering of locals, expats and visitors, so it is also a gentle first outing for someone who is still new to the island.
Which format suits your plan?
| Format | Setting | Best for | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutored cellar tasting | Indoor, seated, small group | A first meet with one or two new people | Online in advance |
| Vineyard tour and tasting | Outdoor walk plus tasting | A relaxed day trip with a small group | Check the winery’s website |
| Open-air wine festival | Public gardens, standing and mingling | A loose group that likes flexibility | Check the festival details each year |
Honest ways to find someone to go to a wine tasting with in Malta
There is no single trick. Most people combine two or three of the approaches below until one sticks.
Ask people you already half-know
Colleagues, classmates, your padel or gym regulars, the neighbour you chat with on the stairs: these people already know you a little, which lowers the barrier. The key is a specific invitation. “I’ve booked the tutored tasting in Marsa for Saturday afternoon, want to come? Pay your own, it’s bookable online” gets far more yeses than “we should go wine tasting some time”.
Go solo to a small guided tasting
A small seated tasting is one of the few places where turning up alone feels completely normal. You sit near other guests, everyone is tasting the same wines, and the guide gives the group shared things to react to. If you get on with someone at the table, suggesting another tasting or a meal afterwards is easy.
Community chats and expat groups
Many people in Malta use community chats and expat groups to find company for activities. If you post there, keep it short and practical, follow the group’s rules, and do not share your phone number, address or other personal details in a public thread. Move to a private chat only with people you have a good feeling about, and still meet at the venue.
Turn a dinner plan into a tasting plan
If you are already trying to find someone to go to dinner with in Malta, a tasting is a natural add-on: taste first, then eat together nearby, or just do the tasting and keep dinner optional. Being clear about the food budget up front avoids awkward moments; our guide on setting a budget for a group dinner with new people walks through how to say it.
Post a plan on MeetNow. MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person. A host posts a plan at a real public place, such as a wine tasting, sets the date, time and seats, and says who pays: host pays, split, pay your own or free. People nearby ask to join with a short note, the host picks who comes, and accepted guests get a group chat. It is plans, not profiles, and it is launching in Malta first, coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
What to say when you ask
Whether you are messaging a colleague, posting in a group or writing a MeetNow plan, the same details make people comfortable saying yes:
- The exact tasting: name the winery or event, not just “wine”.
- Date and time: give one option, or two at most.
- How many people: say how many seats you are filling, especially for tastings with a booking cap.
- Who pays and who books: “pay your own, everyone books their own seat” is clear and fair.
- What happens after: “maybe a bite to eat afterwards, optional” tells people there is no pressure.
- The vibe: “beginners welcome, no wine knowledge needed” or “keen to try Maltese grape varieties”.
A message that works in most places: “Going to the tutored Maltese wine tasting in Marsa on Saturday afternoon. Looking for one or two people to join. Pay your own, each person books their seat online. Happy to grab food nearby afterwards if people fancy it.”
How to post a plan to find company in Malta
When MeetNow launches, this is how a wine tasting plan works from start to finish:
- Choose the tasting and check its rules. Look at the venue’s website for booking, timing and age rules before you post, so your plan matches what is actually possible.
- Set the public place, date and time. Use the venue itself as the meeting point. Meeting at the entrance is simpler than meeting somewhere else first.
- Set the seats. Match them to what you can realistically book. If the session needs reservations, do not offer more seats than are available.
- Say who pays. For a per-person ticket, “pay your own” is usually the clearest choice, but you can also pick host pays, split or free. Our explainer on who pays on a MeetNow plan covers each option.
- Write a short description. Include the tasting, the booking arrangement and what happens afterwards.
- Choose who can join. You can limit who joins by gender or age range, and block users if needed; see how to choose who joins.
- Review requests. People ask to join with a short note. Accept or decline, and accepted guests get a group chat for sorting out bookings and meeting at the door.
- Confirm you met. Afterwards, both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record.
One practical note for bookable tastings: MeetNow does not sell tickets or take payments, so use the group chat to agree who books. Either each guest reserves their own seat on the venue’s website, or the host books for everyone and the group settles up in person, as stated in the plan.
How to ask to join someone else’s plan
If someone has already posted a wine tasting plan, your note is what helps the host decide. Keep it short, friendly and relevant:
- “Hi, I’ve wanted to try the Marsa cellar tasting for a while. Happy to pay my own and book my seat once you accept.”
- “New to Malta and keen to learn about local wines. Total beginner, but I’m curious and easy-going.”
- “Free that afternoon and would love the vineyard walk. I’ll be on Gozo already, so I can meet you at the winery.”
Mention anything that affects the plan, such as arriving separately or needing to leave early. Skip long life stories; the host mainly wants to know you have read the plan and are comfortable with how it works.
Example plan description
Plan: Tutored Maltese wine tasting at Delicata’s wine vaults, Marsa
When: Saturday afternoon, meeting at the entrance shortly before the session starts
Seats: 2 guests plus me
Who pays: Pay your own
Description: I’d like to try the guided tasting of Maltese wines with a couple of friendly people. No wine knowledge needed. Bookings are online only, so once I accept you, please reserve your own seat for the same session and confirm in the group chat. If we get on, we can grab something to eat nearby afterwards, completely optional. I’ll be making my own way home and suggest everyone does the same rather than driving.
Notice what it does: it names the place, the timing, the seats, who pays and who books, and it makes the follow-on meal optional. That clarity is what gets the right people asking to join.
Safety checklist
Meeting someone new for a tasting: the basics
- Meet in a public place. Meet at the winery or festival entrance, not at someone’s home or car.
- Tell a friend. Share where you are going, who you are meeting and roughly when you expect to be done.
- Get your own way home. Arrange your own transport, and do not drive after tasting wine.
- Leave if you feel uncomfortable. You never owe anyone the full session or the dinner afterwards.
- Pace yourself. Use the water and bread, and skip pours if you have had enough.
- Check the age rules. Participants at Delicata’s tastings must be at least 17 years of age (Delicata).
A tasting plan is about the wine and the company, not romance. If you are wondering how that works on MeetNow, our page on whether MeetNow is a dating app explains the difference.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is launching in Malta first and is not in the App Store or Google Play yet: join the MeetNow waitlist and we’ll email you when it launches near you.
FAQ
Can I go to a wine tasting in Malta on my own?
Yes. Small guided tastings seat you alongside other guests, and everyone tastes the same wines, so conversation comes easily. Going solo is also a good way to meet people you might invite to the next tasting.
Who pays on a wine tasting plan?
Most tastings charge per person, so pay your own is usually the clearest option. On MeetNow the host chooses host pays, split, pay your own or free, and should also say who books the seats, since MeetNow does not sell tickets or take payments.
Is a wine tasting plan on MeetNow a date?
No. MeetNow is built around plans, not profiles, and it is not a dating app. The host describes the activity, people ask to join with a short note, and the host can limit who joins by gender or age range if they prefer.
How many people should I invite to a wine tasting?
Keep it small, usually one to three guests, so everyone can talk and the booking stays simple. Only offer as many seats as the tasting can realistically take on your chosen date.
Is MeetNow available in Malta yet?
Not yet. MeetNow is launching in Malta first and is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. You can join the waitlist at meetnowtonight.com with your first name and email, and you will get an email when it launches near you. The form never asks for a phone number.
