Malvasia is a family of grape varieties common in the Mediterranean region, cultivated in Italy, Croatia (on the Istrian peninsula), Spain, Portugal, France and Switzerland, as well as on the island of Madeira. It comes from ancient Greece and was distributed on the islands of the Aegean Sea. Berries have medium size, rounded, covered with a thin dense skin of golden yellow color with brown dots or spots.
In different regions, Malvasia have different names:
Bourboulenc and Clairette are varieties cultivated in the Rhone Valley, France.
Vermentino is a famous variety in Sardinia.
Vermentinu is the main variety in Corsica.
Malmsey (Malmsey) — under this name Malvasia is cultivated in Madeira.
In southern Italy you can find red Malvasia.
In Italy, 18 varieties of malvasia are officially registered: from malvasia bianca to malvoisi in Valle d'Aosta. But not all varieties that are locally called malvasia are actually relatives.
Classic white malvasia has a rich golden color of wine with moderate acidity, floral aroma and nutty notes. Mature wines will remind you the tropical fruits, ripe zest, dried apricots, honey.
Malvasia wines have always been very popular in Europe, especially in Italy. For example, almost all Venetian bars were called "Malvasias". In Venice, you can find sixteen places that still have the name "Malvasia": Calle della Malvasia — in Sestriere Dorsoduro and in Sestriere Castello, near Piazza San Marco, bridge Ponte della Malvasia Vecchia, pier Fondamenta della Malvasia.
