For Anna Edlebi and Tracy D’Amato, the opening of Sistina Wine & Co. at the Strand, Gzira, is a dream come true. “This is scary but exciting,” Anna said, outlining the offer of “a little bit of everything” with a large selection of wines, from the simple to the more complex, plus a host of gift ideas.

True to its roots as Sistina Art, the gourmet outlet also displays a selection of paintings and prints by, among others, Tonio Mallia, Emvin Cremona, Debbie Caruana Dingli and Frederick Gingell.

For Pierre Pellegrini Petit, Managing Director of Attard & Co. Foodstuffs Ltd, Sistina Wine & Co. is a new venture for the company since it was never in the retail market. “Anna and Tracy have accepted this big challenge and we achieved the transformation of the outlet in just one and a half months,” he said.

Following on the premise that wine and art go well together, Sistina Wine & Co. now sports a rustic feel with the use of natural wood, along with some modern touches. The wines from the Attard & Co. Foodstuffs Ltd portfolio are kept in a temperature-controlled environment day and night, and among the gift ideas are truffles, pasta, cured meats, a selection of confectionery, teas and other niche items.

Still, Anna believes that the outlet will attract people from all walks of life, since there are affordable prices to suite all budgets.

Guests invited to the opening had the opportunity to taste four wines by Chilean producer Viña San Pedro, with three Leyda Valley wines and a fourth from the Rapel Valley.

Vines were first planted in the Leyda Valley in 1998 after an 8-km pipeline was installed bringing water from the Maipo River. They now cover a total of 230 hectares. Viña San Pedro’s vision is to work with specific microterroirs, ensure limited wine production and, with the proper selection of each parcel, give different expressions, purity, identity and character to an ultra premium wine.

The two whites were a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. Strong in expression, the Sauvignon Blanc shows herbal and green character, together with citrus aromas, and hints of lime, mandarin, grapefruit and passion fruit. It is fresh on the palate, with a sweet texture, concentrated fruit with crisp acidity and juicy ending.

Viña San Pedro’s goal with the Chardonnay was to produce a wine rich in the natural fruit aromas of the Leyda Valley’s cool climate, so this Chardonnay brings ripe citrus and semitropical hints of kiwi and cherimoya. This continues on the palace with a sweet, leesy texture, balanced with a juicy finish.

The third wine, a Syrah, is expressive and complex on the nose with notes of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries together with floral hints and comfitures. The maturation in oak enhances the fruit, giving the palate a silky texture and berry juiciness.

The Carmenere from the Rapel Valley has a strong varietal character, with ripe, fruity aromas of blackberries and herbs. Black pepper and hints of oak add complexity to the nose. It is soft and juicy on the palate with a silky texture and subtle oak notes at the finish.

For more information contact 21314161 or email info@sistinawine.com