Malta's annual wine festival kicks off this August showcasing the best bottles from the region and around the world.

Held each year to coincide with the start of the island's grape harvest, the event attracts scores of visitors keen to sip Semillon or pig out on Pinot while enjoying great summer weather and exquisite views of the Upper Barrakka Gardens in capital city Valletta.

The festival is traditionally opened by the island's president, who also signals the start of the annual wine regatta - a race to get grapes from the wineries on the waterfront to the waiting crushers in the gardens above.

Following this, a wide selection of wines are made available for sampling alongside local dishes cooked to compliment the drinks.

Live entertainment is also laid on throughout the two evenings as well as a firework spectacular, exhibitions on the art of winemaking and re-enactments of traditional harvesting methods.

Those that miss out on the Valletta viticulture can head to nearby Gozo at the end of August for a similar event.