The name: The island of Crete, whose ancient Latin name is Candia, gives Malvasia Bianca di Candia its name as the grape variety was planted here by the Venetians. In some places, Malvasia Bianca di Candia is also called Malvasia Rossa which is erroneous as Malvasia Rossa is most likely another distinct and very rare variety. And although Malvasia Bianca di Candia Aromatica and Malvasi Bianca di Candia have similar names, they are genetically distinct from each other. Malvasia Bianca di Candia is closely linked to the red-berried Malvasi di Casorzo from Piedmont.

Frascati, an Italian white wine, takes its name from the town of Frascati, located 25 km southeast of Rome, in Lazio, Italy. Archeological discoveries from the ancient town of Tusculum, now Frascati, demonstrate the cultivation of grapes for wine since the 5th century BC

Wines: Lazio: Frascati DOC. | Cannellino di Frascati DOCG. | Castelli Romani DOC. |

Colli Lanuvini DOC. | Umbria: Colli Martani DOC. | Campania: Sannio DOC. Also found in: Emilia-Romagna, Le Marche, Puglia, Tuscany and Umbria.

Viticulture: Malvasia Bianca di Candia is a productive variety, so vigorous rootstocks are to be avoided. In humid conditions, its large and thin-skinned berries are more sensitive to disease and more like to suffer from berry shatter.

Wine styles: Malvasia Bianca di Candia is described as not at all aromatic by Dr Ian D’Agata (2019). (See aromatic grape varieties.) Monovarietal bottlings of Malvasia Bianca di Candia (if rare) are characterized by weak aromas of citrus fruit and white blossom accompanied by relatively sharp acidity and a thin mid-palate. Most examples are dry and still. Blends dominate and varietal wines are rare.

Bibliography

Dr Ian d’Agata, Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs (University of California Press, 2019).

Italian Wine Unplugged (Positive Press, 2017), p.54