White grapeSommo grape guide

Malvasia Bianca

Malvasia Bianca wine guide: what this white grape tastes like, where it comes from, the regions that grow it, and what to eat with it.

Colour
White
Body
Medium
Origin
Italy
Top region
Central Coast
5
Key regions
4
Pairings
4
Synonyms

Malvasia Bianca is a white grape variety, with its roots in Sicily, Italy.

The wines show medium body, no tannin, medium acidity, off-dry and medium alcohol.

The tasting note runs to ripe pear, honey, spice, grapey and floral.

It is planted most seriously in Central Coast, Sicily, Croatia and Slovenia.

In the vineyard it is marked by mid ripening, medium to high productivity vigour and a preference for diverse climates.

It blends readily with Trebbiano.

On other labels it goes by Malvasia, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana and Malvasia Nera.

At the table it suits quinoa salad with pears, chicken sandwich with gravy, pizza with gorgonzola and walnuts and pear.

The structure.

Body
Medium
Tannin
None
Acidity
Medium
Sweetness
Off-dry
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
ripe pearhoneyspice
Aromas
grapeyfloral
Styles
drysweetsparklingspecialty

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 quinoa salad with pears
02 chicken sandwich with gravy
03 pizza with Gorgonzola
04 walnuts and pear

Also labelled.

Malvasia, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana, Malvasia Nera.

Bottles to look for.

  • Birichino Malvasia Bianca, Monterey, USA
  • Birichino Petulant Naturel Malvasia Bianca, Monterey, USA
  • Clai 'Sv. Jakov' Malvazija, Istria, Croatia
  • Conti Zecca Calavento Salento IGT, Puglia, Italy
  • Conti Zecca Luna Salento IGT, Puglia, Italy
  • Coronica Gran Malvazija, Istria, Croatia
  • Coronica Malvasia, Istria, Croatia
  • Cotar Malvazija, Kras, Slovenia

Malvasia Bianca: common questions

01.
What does Malvasia Bianca taste like?
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Malvasia Bianca tastes of ripe pear, honey, spice, grapey and floral. The wines show medium body, no tannin, medium acidity, off-dry and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Malvasia Bianca from?
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Malvasia Bianca originates in Sicily, Italy.
03.
Where is Malvasia Bianca grown?
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The key regions for Malvasia Bianca are Central Coast, Sicily, Croatia, Slovenia and Portugal.
04.
What food pairs with Malvasia Bianca?
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Pour it with quinoa salad with pears, chicken sandwich with gravy, pizza with gorgonzola and walnuts and pear.
05.
What else is Malvasia Bianca called?
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Malvasia Bianca is also labelled Malvasia, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia Istriana and Malvasia Nera.

Keep going: the A to Z grape index, or the wine regions of Italy.

Grapes in the app

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