Monemvasia (grape variety)

The white grape variety originates from Greece. Synonyms are Artemisi, Artemissi, Klossaria, Monembasia, Monemvassia, Monembasitiko, Monemvassiatiko, Monemvassitiko, Monobasia, Monovassia and Parghino.It is one of the numerous mostly unrelated varieties with name part Malvasia (see there). It is believed that the variety (among many others) was used for the production of the famous Malvasia wines, which were shipped or exported from the historic Greek port of Monemvasia (Laconia) as early as the 13th century. The variety's ancestry is unknown; according to DNA analyses carried out in 2000, there is no relationship with any of the many other Malvasia varieties.

The early-maturing, high-yielding vine is resistant to many vine diseases and drought. It yields high-alcohol, full-bodied but low-acid white wines with spicy flavours and is also used as table grape. The variety is mainly cultivated in the Cyclades, especially on the island of Paros, where it is used to make the OPAP white wine of the same name. There are also other stocks on other Aegean islands, on the island of Euboea and on the southern tip of Peloponnese (Laconia). In 2016, a total of 81 hectares of vines were recorded in Greece (Kym Anderson statistics).

Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012

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Monemvasia (grape variety)

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