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Italy's Native Wine Grapes Guide

Malvasia rosa

Grape's Data Sheet

The Malvasia rosa Wine Grape in Italy

Malvasia rosa - The Grape and the Wines

    • Color: Wines produced from Malvasia Rosa can range from pale yellow to light pink, depending on the maceration period and vinification techniques used.
    • Aroma: Malvasia Rosa wines tend to have delicate and complex aromas, with notes of white-fleshed fruit (such as apple and pear), white flowers, and sometimes hints of citrus. Some wines may have slight spicy or herbal notes. Depending on the vinification techniques, yeast aromas or mineral notes may emerge.
    • Taste: On the palate, Malvasia Rosa wines are generally fresh and well-balanced, with a pleasant acidity that gives liveliness. The primary flavors include white fruit, citrus, and a light floral note. The wines can range from light to medium-bodied. Younger wines tend to be light and fresh, while those with some aging may develop more complexity and a rounder body. The finish is often clean and pleasant, with good aromatic persistence that reflects the fruity and floral characteristics of the wine.Malvasia Rosa is a variety belonging to the Malvasia group, a large and diverse group of white grape varieties that share a common origin. Although Malvasia is cultivated in many wine regions around the world, Malvasia Rosa is less common and has peculiar characteristics compared to other Malvasia varieties.Malvasia Rosa is a pink-berried grape variety obtained from a natural genetic mutation of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, identified and isolated in the late 1960s in a vineyard in Valnure, when a pink cluster appeared on a vine among many golden clusters.

      Malvasia Rosa is mainly cultivated in Emilia-Romagna, particularly in the Piacenza area. Its cluster is medium-large, pyramidal, winged, and loosely compact. The berry is large, round, with thick, pruinose pink skin. The grapes from Malvasia Rosa produce an excellent rosé wine, either still or sparkling. The grape variety is also suitable for the production of sparkling wines. Malvasia Rosa wine has a pale pink color, aromas of peach and violet, is slightly aromatic, fresh, sapid, and low in alcohol. It pairs well with cured meats, first courses with clams, shellfish, and is also excellent as an aperitif, served at a temperature of 12°-16°C.

      Cultivation and Agronomic Characteristics

      Vigor and Growth:

      • Vigor: Malvasia Rosa is a variety that can exhibit good vigor. However, its growth can be variable depending on climatic conditions and soil type.
      • Type of Shoots: The shoots tend to be fairly robust, but canopy management is important to ensure good sun exposure and promote uniform ripening of the clusters.

      Resistance and Adaptability:

      • Resistance: Malvasia Rosa can be sensitive to certain vine diseases, such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. The variety requires good phytosanitary management and careful cultivation practices to prevent these issues.
      • Adaptability: It is well adapted to warm and sunny climates. The variety can adapt well to hilly, well-drained soils.

      Production and Yield:

      • Yield: The yield can vary, but Malvasia Rosa tends to produce grapes with moderate concentrations of sugars and acids. Yield management is important to ensure the quality of the wine.
      • Pruning and Harvesting: Pruning and harvesting must be done carefully to optimize the quality of the grapes and ensure optimal ripening.

      Certainly! Here is the text translated into English, with the relevant wine and agricultural keywords marked in bold:

      Malvasia Rosa is a variety belonging to the Malvasia group, a large and diverse group of white grape varieties that share a common origin. Although Malvasia is cultivated in many wine regions around the world, Malvasia Rosa is less common and has peculiar characteristics compared to other Malvasia varieties.

      Malvasia Rosa is a pink-berried grape variety obtained from a natural genetic mutation of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, identified and isolated in the late 1960s in a vineyard in Valnure, when a pink cluster appeared on a vine among many golden clusters.

      Malvasia Rosa is mainly cultivated in Emilia-Romagna, particularly in the Piacenza area. Its cluster is medium-large, pyramidal, winged, and loosely compact. The berry is large, round, with thick, pruinose pink skin. The grapes from Malvasia Rosa produce an excellent rosé wine, either still or sparkling. The grape variety is also suitable for the production of sparkling wines. Malvasia Rosa wine has a pale pink color, aromas of peach and violet, is slightly aromatic, fresh, sapid, and low in alcohol. It pairs well with cured meats, first courses with clams, shellfish, and is also excellent as an aperitif, served at a temperature of 12°-16°C.

      Cultivation and Agronomic Characteristics

      Vigor and Growth:

      • Vigor: Malvasia Rosa is a variety that can exhibit good vigor. However, its growth can be variable depending on climatic conditions and soil type.
      • Type of Shoots: The shoots tend to be fairly robust, but canopy management is important to ensure good sun exposure and promote uniform ripening of the clusters.

      Resistance and Adaptability:

      • Resistance: Malvasia Rosa can be sensitive to certain vine diseases, such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. The variety requires good phytosanitary management and careful cultivation practices to prevent these issues.
      • Adaptability: It is well adapted to warm and sunny climates. The variety can adapt well to hilly, well-drained soils.

      Production and Yield:

      • Yield: The yield can vary, but Malvasia Rosa tends to produce grapes with moderate concentrations of sugars and acids. Yield management is important to ensure the quality of the wine.
      • Pruning and Harvesting: Pruning and harvesting must be done carefully to optimize the quality of the grapes and ensure optimal ripening.

      Organoleptic Characteristics of the Wines:

        • Color: Wines produced from Malvasia Rosa can range from pale yellow to light pink, depending on the maceration period and vinification techniques used.
        • Aroma: Malvasia Rosa wines tend to have delicate and complex aromas, with notes of white-fleshed fruit (such as apple and pear), white flowers, and sometimes hints of citrus. Some wines may have slight spicy or herbal notes. Depending on the vinification techniques, yeast aromas or mineral notes may emerge.
        • Taste: On the palate, Malvasia Rosa wines are generally fresh and well-balanced, with a pleasant acidity that gives liveliness. The primary flavors include white fruit, citrus, and a light floral note. The wines can range from light to medium-bodied. Younger wines tend to be light and fresh, while those with some aging may develop more complexity and a rounder body. The finish is often clean and pleasant, with good aromatic persistence that reflects the fruity and floral characteristics of the wine.
        • Pairings: Malvasia Rosa wines pair well with light dishes such as salads, seafood, grilled fish, and pasta dishes with light sauces. Their freshness and liveliness also make them excellent as aperitifs.
malvasia rosa a native wine grape of Italy

Malvasia rosa - General Info Table

Malvasia rosa is one of the  Aromatic Grapes, Hybrid grapes and crosses with Pink berry widespread mainly in Emilia-Romagna, officially listed in the “Catalogo nazionale varietà di vite” since 1991. Its surface under vines in Italy is 32 ha.
Berry colorPink berry
Grape CategoryAromatic Grapes, Hybrid grapes and crosses
Main RegionEmilia-Romagna
Surface under Vines in Italy32 ha
Varietal GroupMalvasie
Year of listing1991

Malvasia rosa - Ampelographic Data

Each grape variety is characterized by Ampelographic Descriptors that define the appearance of its main elements. The ampelographic features of the Malvasia rosa grape variety are:
Leaf Features
The leaf of the Malvasia rosa grape variety is medium-sized, pentagonal, with five lobes.
Bunch Features
The bunch of the Malvasia rosa grape variety is sparse, medium-sized, pyramidal.
Berry Features
The berries of the Malvasia rosa grape variety are big, of spheroidal shape and with very waxy, firm, thick and pink colored skin.

Malvasia rosa - Wine Features

The Varietal Wine obtained from each and every Grape Variety, features precisely defined organoleptic characteristics. Referred to Malvasia rosa grapes, they are as follows:
Varietal Wine's features
The wine obtained from Malvasia rosa grapes is soft rosé. On the palate the wine is fresh.

Malvasia rosa - Agricultural & Productive Features

Each and every grape variety features very specific agricultural and productive characteristics, such as productivity, yield, ripening time, the ideal type of climate or pruning system, sensitivity to adversities, varying degrees of disease resistance and many others. For the Malvasia rosa grape variety, the main characteristics are:
Ripening timemedium
Vegetative vigorhigh vigor