- Last updated on January 2, 2023
Our Best Malvasia Selection
5 Best Malvasia Reviewed
Find below the reviews for our wine selection of the 5 Best Malvasia so that you have all the info you need to pick what’s best for you.
If you are into sweet lightly bubbly wine with red fruit notes, that’s your wine.
Have it as aperitif with deli or at the end of the meal paired with a strawberry tart and you can’t have enough of it!
It featured in Vivino’s 2018 Wine Style Awards: Southern Italy White (2016 Vintage), and for a good reason.
It’s light, crisp, and fruity, a perfect Sicilian white!
If you have never tried a Malvasia passito you should definitely try this one.
Pair it with a Cannolo Siciliano or a Cassata, typical Sicilian pastries, and you’ll be in heaven!
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 67% more.
Region: Portugal, Madeira
Tasting notes: Caramel, Coffee, Vanilla, Nutty, Raisine, Smoke
The palate is very well-balanced, with a viscous entry that lacquers the mouth.
The acidity is very well-judged, lending the finish a sense of poise and tension that neatly counterbalances the richness and precocity.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 33% more.
Region: Portugal, Porto
Tasting notes: Caramel, Oak, Raisin, Jam, Nuts, Orange Flower
Intense amber tawny color. Opulent and voluptuous nose of complex spicy, jammy and nutty aromas, hints of orange flower.
It has a fine oakiness coming from the long period of aging in cask.
The palate is full of very rich and concentrated flavor and has a long mellow finish.
Buying Guide to Malvasia
It’s not just about which Malvasia you should buy.
There are other important aspects like how to serve it, food pairings, and much more.
The below buying guide will give you a detailed overview on all these topics.
Malvasia Overview
Here you find an overview on where Malvasia di Casorzo DOC dessert wine style is most commonly planted.
Grape
Malvasia Nera
ABV
10.5%
Main Regions
Italy: Piemonte
Other Regions
Grape
Malvasia Nera
ABV
10.5%
Main Regions
Italy: Piemonte
Other Regions
Malvasia Taste Profile
These are some of the most common aromas and flavors of Malvasia di Casorzo DOC dessert wine style.
Color
Red Ruby
Nose
Roses
Apricot, Peach
Raspberry
Palate
Sweet
Light Bubbles
Raspberry
Redcurrants
Medium-High Acidity
Medium-Low Tannins
Medium Body
Color
Red Ruby
Nose
Roses
Apricot, Peach
Raspberry
Palate
Sweet
Light Bubbles
Raspberry
Redcurrants
Medium-High Acidity
Medium-Low Tannins
Medium Body
Malvasia Food Pairings
These are some food pairing suggestions for Malvasia di Casorzo DOC dessert wine style.
Appetizer
Deli
Meat
-
Fish
-
Cheese & Dessert
Firm (Parmigiano, Pecorino)
Fruit Salad, Fruit Tart, Chocolate, Dried Pastry
Appetizer
Deli
Meat
-
Fish
-
Cheese & Dessert
Firm (Parmigiano, Pecorino)
Fruit Salad, Fruit Tart, Chocolate, Dried Pastry
Serve and Store Malvasia
Here you find some useful tips on how to serve and store Malvasia di Casorzo DOC dessert wine style.
Decant
Nope
Glass
Flûte
Viognier
Serve at
43 - 46 °F
6 - 8 °C
Store for
Up to 1 year
Decant
Nope
Glass
Flûte
Viognier
Serve at
43 - 46 °F
6 - 8 °C
Store for
Up to 1 year
What are the other Malvasia styles?
Port wine is one of the most famous and delicious fortified wines that can age decades. In case you wonder is produced in Portugal.
Madeira wine is another very famous and delicious fortified wine from Portugal.
This is another Malvasia varieties produced on the Lipari Island in Sicily, Italy.
Our Verdict
Malvasia, in its dessert version, it is known for its elegant sweetness, light bubbles (“frizzante” in Italian), medium body, tannins, red fruit, rose, and chocolate notes.
What to do next?
Read our wine tasting guide to enhance your tasting experience and taste like the pro!
Alternatively, why don’t you check out our guides on Moscato, Spumante, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay?
FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Malvasia.
What does Malvasia mean?
The name Malvasia is allegedly named after a medieval Byzantine fortress named Monemvasia, whose port acted as trading center for wine.
What is Malvasia history?
Where does Malvasia grow best?
Generally speaking, Malvasia usually grows best in dry climates on sloping well-drained soils to reduce the development of various grape diseases.
When is the perfect time to drink Malvasia?
Malvasia in its dessert wine style is perfect for aperitif or for dessert.
Is Malvasia sweet?
As we have seen above, there are at least four different Malvasia wine styles that goes from sweet to dry.
The sweetness level of a wine is expressed in grams of sugar per liter, aka g/L, or as a percentage.
A dry wine contains less than 15 g/L. A sweet wine contains between 50-100 g/L.
Learn more about wine sweetness level here.
What does the acronym DOC mean?
DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata. It’s one of the highest classification in Italy.
To obtain DOC winemakers need to follow rigorous protocols for harvesting, cultivation, and production.
Other common classifications are DO, IGT, and DOCG. [1]
It can be compared with the AOC in France.[2]
