Capt. Caruana

Capt. Caruana is one of Malta's long-established wine and spirits merchants, trading since 1894 under the name Captain A. Caruana and, in Ħaż-Żebbuġ, as Ten Green Bottles. This listing covers the St Julian's shop on St Augustine Street, close to the bars, restaurants and hotels of the town. The website works as a wines and spirits portal, and orders can be collected in store or delivered across Malta and Gozo.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the business is listed in our directory of wine merchants in Malta.

Wine, Champagne and fortified wines

The online shop sorts wine by type, country and region. Types include white, rosé, red, Champagne and sparkling, fortified, dessert and sweet, and organic. Countries run from France and Italy to Malta, Spain, Argentina and Australia, with regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône, Sicily and Tuscany picked out. There are 21 Champagnes, 36 Australian wines and 16 from Argentina.

Examples include Taittinger Brut Nocturne Champagne at €60.00, Andreola Prosecco Valdobbiadene at €17.85, Pesquera Crianza 2019 at €22.99 and Mandrarossa Frappato at €15.00, all with VAT included. For something special, a 150cl boxed Marchesi di Barolo Barolo 2014 is €122.66. The fortified range covers 19 Madeiras, 20 Ports, seven sherries and a Marsala, which suit the end of a meal.

Rosé has its own section, with an explanation of how pink wine is made and which grapes are used, from Sangiovese in Italian rosato to the dry Provence style that suits a hot Maltese afternoon. Sparkling wine covers Champagne and Prosecco, including Asolo Prosecco from the hills north of Venice. A loyalty points scheme runs on the shop, and it has offered double-points weekends and discounts on Irish whiskies around St Patrick's Day.

Whisky, spirits and craft beer

Spirits include amaro, brandy, cognac and armagnac, gin, rum, tequila and vodka, along with a large whisky selection: Irish, Japanese, blended Scotch, single malts, American and Maltese. A Nikka Coffey range coffret of four 70cl bottles is listed at €309.40.

The beer department stocks 37 beers and craft beers, including Maltese craft beer, Japanese Kyoto Kizakura, Theresianer, Thai Chang at €1.50 for 33cl, and the familiar Maltese lagers. The merchant takes particular pride in its craft beer selection.

Tastings, cigar evenings and delivery

Capt. Caruana runs ticketed events, many hosted at the Ħaż-Żebbuġ shop, which include whisky tastings, cigar launches and a vinyl and cigars evening. Past tickets have been priced at €38.00 for a cigar launch and a Japanese whisky tasting, €35.00 for a Glen Scotia whisky tasting and €40.00 for the vinyl and cigars night. Event dates change, so ask what is coming up.

Delivery in Malta and Gozo is free, or you can pick up in store for free. Because the merchant is close to the hotels in Sliema and St Julian's, visitors who are staying nearby can pick up a bottle on the way back, and anyone renting a flat can have an order sent to their door.

Planning a visit

The other shops make good stops on a wider trip. The Valletta branch is a short walk from the sights in our Valletta guide, and the Ħaż-Żebbuġ shop sits on the road to Mdina, covered in our Mdina travel guide. If you are comparing areas, see where to stay in Malta, and use our list of things to do in Malta and the Malta weather guide to plan your days. Our page on flights to Malta from the UK covers the journey, and the guide to Gozo is useful if you are staying on the sister island, where deliveries also go.

Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Capt. Caruana, who will reply to you directly.