Malvasia Puntinata

Malvasia is a group of countless grape varieties that are believed to have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean. The name "Malvasia" is derived from the Venetian city of Monemvasia (in modern day Greece), which was an important centre for the wine trade during the Middle Ages. So much so that the name Malvasia became a synonym for wine shipped through the port of Venice.

This has led to wide number of varieties that share no common ancestry all being named Malvasia. There are 19 varieties listed on the Italian Grape Vine Register all with the prefix Malvasia, few of which are actually related to each other.

This brings us to Malvasia Puntinata aka Malvasia del Lazio. DNA profiling shows its parentage as a natural crossing of Schiava Grossa and Muscat of Alexandria. Despite these varieties having their respective origins in the cooler slopes of the Italian Alps and the eastern Mediterranean, Malvasia Puntinata makes its home in the southern central regions of Abruzzo, Umbria, and most importantly, Lazio.

The variety is so named, the Puntinata bit at least, for its spots that appear on the ripe grapes (puntinata is Italian for spotted or speckled).

If you are seeking out wines of personality, then Malvasia Puntinata should be on your list. Colle Gaio of Casal Pilozzo is perhaps the definitive example, but there are many others. The vine has its spiritual home on the volcanic slopes of Frascati where it is often blended with other varieties such as Malvasia Bianca (aka Malvasia di Candia) and Trebbiano Toscano.