Malvasia is a common name or synonym (several names for one variety) and homonym (one name for several varieties) for numerous grape varieties, especially in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Of the more than 100 varieties, however, only some are genetically related. They exist in the berry colours white, light green, grey, rosé, red, blue and black with different taste characteristics or aromas, for example with and without muscat tone. In summary, the grape varieties with "Malvasia" in their name have a genetically diverse background and show an equally heterogeneous morphology (external appearance). That is, there are no particular Malvasia-specific characteristics. The name Malvasia therefore relatively often names a type of wine, but not a family of grape varieties that is often wrongly called this (the same phenomenon also applies to the four groups of names Lambrusco, Muscat, Trebbiano and Vernaccia).
Origin of the name
The name Malvasia is probably a reference to the port of Monemvasia in the south-eastern Peloponnese, which was a transhipment point for dessert wines from the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages. An important production site was Crete. There is documentary evidence that traders from the then maritime power Venice imported "Vinum de Malvasias" as early as 1278. These were so important at the time that Venetian wine shops were even called "Malvasie". However, these wines were made from different Greek grape varieties, which were often blended together. Candidates include Aïdani Aspro, Aïdani Mavro, Assyrtiko, Athiri Aspro, Athiri Mavro, Kydonitsa, Liatiko, Monemvasia, Thrapsathiri and Vilana.
The name Malvasia eventually became synonymous with excellent wines and also found its way into world literature. Shakespeare's Falstaff pays tribute to a Malvasia and Thomas Mann has a bouteille of Malvasia brought out of the cellar in "Buddenbrooks". Which varieties the authors were referring to was probably not even clear to these two. The name Malvasia has been altered or verbalised in various languages. In English it became Malmsey and also refers to a type of Madeira wine. In France, Malvoisie is used, in Croatia Malvazija and in German-speaking countries Malvasier. There are also the spellings Malvagia, Malvasie, Malvasijie, Malvasika and Malvasiya. In numerous sources and publications, often only "Malvasia" is given briefly, which makes identification more difficult.
Malvasia varieties
There are at least 25 different varieties with "Malvasia" in the main name, as well as countless in synonyms. In the individual countries and also regions, these varieties are called differently. It is not surprising that confusion often arises here. The 100 or so most important names with Malvasia in them:
Malvasia to Malvasia Aromatica di Parma
