White grapeSommo grape guide

Malvasia

Malvasia 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
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
4
Key regions
5
Pairings
4
Synonyms

Malvasia is a white grape variety, and it traces back to Mediterranean, Italy.

Structurally it lands at medium body, no tannin, low acidity, varies and medium alcohol.

Look for stone fruits, floral notes, citrus, herbaceous hints, floral and herbal.

In the cellar it meets unoaked.

The regions that matter for it are Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Douro, Madeira and Malvasia delle Lipari.

In the vineyard it is marked by early ripening, medium vigour and a preference for maritime.

It blends readily with Trebbiano and Viura.

Watch for the synonyms: Malmsey, Malvasier, Malvazia and Monemvasia.

At the table it suits light dishes, white meats, blue cheese risotto, waldorf salad and white fish fillets.

The structure.

Body
Medium
Tannin
None
Acidity
Low
Sweetness
Varies
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
stone fruitsfloral notescitrusherbaceous hints
Aromas
floralherbalpeachapricot
Cellar
Unoaked
Styles
dry whitesweetsparkling

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 light dishes
02 white meats
03 blue cheese risotto
04 Waldorf salad
05 white fish fillets

Also labelled.

Malmsey, Malvasier, Malvazia, Monemvasia.

Bottles to look for.

  • Adega Regional de Colares Arenae Malvasia, Colares, Portugal
  • Barbeito 10 Year Old Malvasia Old Reserve, Madeira, Portugal
  • Barbeito Malvasia, Madeira, Portugal
  • Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy
  • Blandy's 10 Year Old Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal
  • Blandy's Vintage Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal
  • Bodegas Los Bermejos Malvasia Volcanica Seco, Lanzarote, Spain
  • Borgo del Tiglio Collio Malvasia, Friuli, Italy

Malvasia: common questions

01.
What does Malvasia taste like?
+
Malvasia tastes of stone fruits, floral notes, citrus, herbaceous hints, floral and herbal, plus two more. Structurally it lands at medium body, no tannin, low acidity, varies and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Malvasia from?
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Malvasia originates in Mediterranean, Italy.
03.
Where is Malvasia grown?
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The key regions for Malvasia are Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Douro, Madeira and Malvasia delle Lipari.
04.
What food pairs with Malvasia?
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Pour it with light dishes, white meats, blue cheese risotto, waldorf salad and white fish fillets.
05.
What else is Malvasia called?
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Malvasia is also labelled Malmsey, Malvasier, Malvazia and Monemvasia.

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

Grapes in the app

Scan a Malvasia,
see what is in your glass.

Sommo reads the label, names the grape and the region, and files the tasting note where you will find it again.