HOT NEW SINGLE VARIETALS MALVASIA: YOUR NEW FAVORITE FLORAL ITALIAN WHITE

I know I’ve been talking so much shit on White Claw lately. Which is kind of unfair because I’ve actually never had one. But I guess one of my… I don’t know…. peeves is when that’s all some folks drink in hot weather! Spice it up!

Let’s put the hard seltzer down people, and reach for a bottle of Malvasia.

Malvasia is Italy’s answer to Chardonnay, and the grape is extremely popular because of its crisp, refreshing, and slightly floral characteristics. The name “Malvasia,” actually refers to a group of wine varietals grown historically in the Mediterranean, but the Malvasia I want to talk about today is Malvasia Bianca.

Malvasia Bianca is a white grape with plenty of range, and can produce wines ranging from sweet, to dry, to sparkling and even fortified wines.

I think Malvasia is one of the ultimate Summer whites any Thurstqueen or King should have in their rotation, simply due to its refreshingly crisp drinkability and affordable price point.

Where does Malvasia grow?

The majority of Malvasia grows in Italy, and it is voraciously consumed in Europe. Yet with all that in mind, Malvasia also grows in Croatia, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain and the United States. Italian Malvasia is typically found in Sicily, Sardinia, and the Chianti region where it is blended with other varietals like Trebbiano.

In the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Malvasia is often done in the passito style, which means the berries are dried prior to being turned into wine. The first time you give Malvasia a try, I recommend looking for Italian expressions of the varietal that are done in a drier style.

What does Malvasia taste like?

If Malvasia is done in the dry style, it is usually pretty clean and citrusy. Sometimes you can pick up on some stone fruit aromas, like melon or peach. Malvasia also has herbal qualities, and it’s not uncommon to get aromas of basil. This white varietal is usually fairly low in alcohol, and as a varietal is a bit sweeter than most. It’s the ultimate crushable day drinking white — perfect for Summer. Malvasia is often used in Madeira production in the Portuguese Madeira islands, so if fortified wines are something you’re looking to try, you can experience this varietal there.

What do I pair Malvasia with?

Malvasia is a fantastic wine to pair with gumbo or étouffée. This wine also pairs beautifully with any grilled fish dish with a fruit-based salsa. Sea food is key here, and for slightly sweeter expressions, consider pairing this wine with spicier faire.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Onward Wines Skin Fermented Malvasia $27.00

Faith Armstrong Foster sees all vineyards as treasures, and her goal is to preserve them and share their wines with the world. The 2021 Malavasia Bianca from Suisun Valley is just that - a bottle of liquid gold! The vines are sourced from Capp Ranch Inn east of Napa Valley in the Suisun Valley. There was a slight period of 3 weeks extended skin contact and rested for a little bit in neutral oak before being bottled.

This wine has loads of sugarloaf pineapple aromas, with some jasmine on the nose and an herbal, verbena-like aroma. There’s a super resinous texture, and the extended skin contact adds some really nice tannins and structure to this wine. It definitely skews on the fruitier, slightly sweeter side, begging it to be paired with spicy foods, like Cochinita Pabil, Enchilada Suizas or even Banana leaf tamales.

There’s so much going on with this wine and it has more than enough intensity! A super pretty and unique take on Malvasia.