Wine and Farm Produce at Montekristo Estate
Montekristo Estate near Siġġiewi makes its own wine in four ranges, Il-Barone, Paulus, Kastell and MK, and also offers Maltese olive oil and ġbejna cheeses. This page explains each wine's style, how to serve it and what to eat with it, so you can choose a bottle or plan a tasting visit.
Written from Montekristo Estate's own published information. Last checked .
Wines and farm produce
Il-Barone Red
Table wine, 11.5% vol, 150cl bottle
A soft, versatile table red from the Il-Barone range, made for roasts and grills.
Il-Barone Red is the everyday red of the estate's table wine family. It is described as soft and versatile, which makes it an easy bottle to open when the table has a mix of tastes.
Pair it with roasts and grills, and serve it slightly chilled rather than warm, a sensible habit in Malta's heat.
Il-Barone Rosé
Table wine, 12% vol, 150cl bottle
A light claret-coloured rosé that is easy to drink, suited to desserts or an aperitif.
This is the pink member of the Il-Barone range, light in style and simple to enjoy. The estate suggests it with desserts, or as a drink before dinner.
Serve it chilled.
Il-Barone White
Table wine, 12% vol, 150cl bottle
A refreshing, light white with a delicate aroma, matched with cheese, white meats and fish.
Il-Barone White is the lightest of the three Il-Barone wines, with a gentle aroma. It is recommended alongside cheeses, white meats and fish dishes.
Serve it chilled. It is a natural partner for the estate's own Maltese cheeses described further down this page.
Paulus Red
Syrah, 2017 harvest, DOK Malta, 14.5% vol, 75cl; contains sulphites
A barrel-aged Syrah from the 2017 harvest, with dark fruit, vanilla and toasted oak.
Paulus Red is the estate's most serious red. It is made from Syrah, carries the 2017 harvest and a DOK Malta designation, and spent 18 months in small oak barrels.
The blend shows blackcurrant, plum and blueberry, layered with vanilla and toasted oak. The estate recommends it with rich meat grills and oriental cuisine. The label links the wine to the shipwreck of St Paul in AD 60, a famous chapter in Malta's history.
Paulus White
Chardonnay, 2022 harvest, DOK Malta, 12% vol, 75cl; contains sulphites
A Chardonnay from the 2022 harvest with floral aromas and flavours of baked apple and tropical fruit.
Paulus White is a Chardonnay with a DOK Malta designation. It is described as an elegant mix of floral aromas, with a balanced taste of baked apples and tropical fruits.
It is intended for creamy dishes, mushrooms and white meats, served chilled.
Kastell Red (Syrah)
Table wine, 12.5% vol, 75cl bottle
A dry-fruited table red with soft tannins, good with meat dishes and grills.
Kastell Syrah is sold as the estate's Kastell Red table wine. Its character is dry fruit flavours with soft tannins, so it is not a heavy or harsh red.
It suits meat dishes and grills and is best served slightly chilled.
Kastell Rosé
Table wine, 11.5% vol, 75cl bottle
A light claret rosé for desserts or an aperitif, served at 12°C.
Kastell Rosé is light and easy to drink. The estate suggests desserts or an aperitif, and gives a precise serving temperature of 12°C.
Kastell White
Table wine, 11.5% vol, 75cl bottle
A refreshing white with a delicate aroma, matched with cheeses and cold starters.
Kastell White is the crisp, easy white of the Kastell range. It is described as refreshing and delicately scented, and works with cheeses and cold starters.
Serve it chilled at 12°C.
MK Syrah
Syrah, 2019 harvest, DOK Malta, 13% vol, 75cl
A deep purple Syrah from 2019 with spice, black fruit and a hint of dark chocolate.
MK Syrah is part of the Montekristo Collection, with a 2019 harvest and DOK Malta designation. It is a deep purple wine with a soft texture that recalls spices, black fruits and a touch of dark chocolate.
It is smooth on the palate and finishes with intensity. Enjoy it at room temperature.
MK Carmenere
Carmenere, 2019 harvest, DOK Malta, 12% vol, 75cl
A medium-bodied 2019 red with violet colour and herb and red fruit aromas.
MK Carmenere is a less common grape to find in a Maltese glass. The wine is medium in body, intensely violet in colour, and dominated by herbs and red fruits.
The aftertaste is soft, with black and red berries. Serve it at room temperature.
MK Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 harvest, IGT Maltese Islands, 11.5% vol, 75cl
A fruity 2021 red with a little spice and pepper and a pleasant finish.
MK Cabernet Sauvignon carries an IGT Maltese Islands designation and the 2021 harvest. It is fruity in both aroma and flavour, with a touch of spice and pepper, and a pleasant finish.
Serve at room temperature.
MK Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc, 2022 harvest, DOK Malta, 14% vol, 75cl
A 2022 red with vibrant fruit aromas and subtle hints of green bell pepper.
MK Cabernet Franc is a lively red from the 2022 harvest, with a DOK Malta designation. Expect bright fruit aromas and a faint green pepper note typical of the grape.
Serve at room temperature.
MK Merlot
Merlot, 2022 harvest, DOK Malta, 12.5% vol, 75cl
A 2022 red with black cherry and vanilla, smooth tannins and a velvety finish.
MK Merlot is the soft, rounded choice among the estate reds. Notes of black cherry and vanilla sit alongside smooth tannins, ending in a velvety finish.
Serve at room temperature.
MK Chardonnay
Chardonnay, 2022 harvest, DOK Malta, 12.5% vol, 75cl
A pale, fruity 2022 white that is fresh on the finish, for aperitifs, fish and light first courses.
MK Chardonnay is a delicate, brilliant pale white with a subtle fruity fragrance and a fresh finish. The estate recommends it as an aperitif, and with fish dishes or light first courses.
Serve chilled.
Box wine
Red, white and rosé table wines, several box sizes
The signature red, white and rosé table wines sold in boxes of different sizes.
For a larger group, a self-catering villa or a long family lunch, the estate also offers its red, white and rosé table wines in boxes. Sizes vary, and the estate presents the format as convenient yet stylish.
Montekristo Maltese Olive Oil
Farm produce
An artisanal olive oil the estate describes as capturing the sunny flavours of its land.
The estate olive oil is a handy souvenir, but check airline limits on liquids before you pack a bottle.
It pairs naturally with fresh local cheese and bread.
Ġbejna Friska
Fresh Maltese cheese
A fresh, creamy Maltese cheese.
Ġbejna Friska is the soft, fresh style of the traditional Maltese cheese, creamy and mild.
Ġbejna Bajda
White Maltese cheese
A white Maltese cheese the estate calls pure and authentic in flavour.
Ġbejna Bajda is the white version, simple and subtle, and a good place to begin if you are new to Maltese cheese.
Maltese Ġbejna (Bżar)
Peppered Maltese cheese
A Maltese ġbejna coated with pepper, in the traditional style.
The Bżar version is the peppered ġbejna, the name meaning pepper in Maltese. Its dark crust is easy to spot in the photo and it brings more savour than the plain cheeses.
Maltese Ġbejna (with chili)
Chili Maltese cheese
A ġbejna infused with chili for a bolder take on the classic.
This chili ġbejna adds heat and contrast to the traditional cheese. It is the choice for visitors who like a little fire with their lunch.
Goat Cheese Wheels
Goat cheese
Artisan goat cheese wheels, described as velvety.
The goat cheese wheels are the larger, aged-style cheeses of the farm range. Cut open, they show a pale interior with flecks of pepper.
Montekristo is more than a place to eat and celebrate. The estate on Triq ta' Hal Farrug also makes its own wine and produces farm goods, and this page walks through them for anyone planning a visit or looking for a bottle to take home. For the full picture of the estate, start with the Montekristo Estate overview.
The wine side is wide for a Maltese estate. There are four named collections: Il-Barone, Paulus, Kastell and the Montekristo (MK) range. The farm side covers olive oil and a small family of Maltese cheeses.
The estate's wine ranges
Il-Barone is the relaxed table wine family, available as a red, a rosé and a white. These come in 150cl bottles, which suit a shared table. The style is easy and Mediterranean, aimed at ordinary meals rather than special occasions.
Paulus is the premium pair: a Syrah red aged in small oak barrels for 18 months, and a Chardonnay white. Both carry the DOK Malta designation, and the labels refer to the shipwreck of St Paul in AD 60. If you enjoy Malta's history, see our Valletta guide for the capital, where that story sits at the heart of the city.
Kastell offers a red made from Syrah, a rosé and a white, all labelled as table wines and sold in 75cl bottles. The MK collection holds the single-grape bottles: Syrah, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Chardonnay.
Grapes and styles
The reds run from soft and fruity to firm and oaky. Merlot is the smooth one, with black cherry and vanilla. Syrah appears in three guises: the barrel-aged Paulus, the spiced and chocolatey MK bottling, and the lighter Kastell. Carmenere and Cabernet Franc offer herbal and green pepper notes for those who like something less obvious.
The whites are Chardonnay in both the Paulus and MK versions, plus the lighter Il-Barone and Kastell blends. Paulus leans towards baked apple and tropical fruit, while MK is pale, delicate and fresh. The rosés are light claret in colour and are suggested for desserts or an aperitif.
Serving advice varies by bottle. The MK reds are intended for room temperature, while the Il-Barone and Kastell reds are better slightly chilled. Whites and rosés go in the fridge first, and the Kastell whites and rosés are given a target of 12°C.
Farm produce
The farm range is short but characterful. It includes Montekristo Maltese olive oil and several ġbejna cheeses. A ġbejna is a small Maltese cheese traditionally made from sheep or goat milk, and the estate offers fresh, white, peppered and chili versions, along with goat cheese wheels.
These products are a good match for the wines. The estate suggests cheeses with Il-Barone White and Kastell White, and the olive oil is a reminder of how much Mediterranean cooking relies on a good bottle. Our guide to wine merchants in Malta is useful if you want to compare local producers.
Buying and tasting
The estate also welcomes trade enquiries from businesses who wish to stock its products. For individual visitors, the sensible approach is to ask on arrival how bottles and produce are sold, as this page does not quote prices or opening hours.
The estate is easy to combine with a meal or an event. See food and drink at Montekristo for the restaurants and brewery, and venues at Montekristo if you are planning a wedding or celebration. Families may prefer the parks and museum. For wider ideas, browse things to do in Malta.
Location
Questions about Wine and Farm Produce at Montekristo Estate
Does Montekristo Estate make its own wine?
Yes. The estate describes its wine as in-house production, with four ranges: Il-Barone, Paulus, Kastell and the Montekristo (MK) collection of single-grape wines.
Which grapes does the estate use?
The wines named on its pages include Syrah, Chardonnay, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with the Il-Barone and Kastell wines sold as red, rosé and white table wines.
Which Montekristo wine is aged in oak?
Paulus Red, a Syrah from the 2017 harvest, was aged for 18 months in small oak barrels. It shows black fruit with vanilla and toasted oak, and suits rich grilled meats.
What food goes with Montekristo white wines?
Il-Barone White suits cheeses, white meats and fish. Kastell White suits cheeses and cold starters, MK Chardonnay suits fish and light first courses, and Paulus White suits creamy dishes and mushrooms.
Should the red wines be served warm or cold?
The MK reds are served at room temperature. Il-Barone Red and Kastell Syrah are best slightly chilled, which is helpful advice on a warm Maltese day.
Does the estate sell cheese and olive oil?
Yes. The farm produce range includes Maltese olive oil, ġbejna in fresh, white, peppered and chili versions, and goat cheese wheels, all described on the estate's farm produce page.
Is wine available in boxes?
Yes. The signature red, white and rosé table wines are offered in boxes of different sizes, which suits groups and longer stays better than single bottles.
Are prices listed for the wines and produce?
The estate pages checked for this guide do not print prices for the wines or farm produce, so confirm costs and availability with the estate before you visit.
Photos: Montekristo Estate.