Malvasia di Candia

What Is Malvasia di Candia?

Malvasia di Candia is the name of two different white grapes of the Malvasia family. Malvasia di Candia Aromatica is grown in western Emilia-Romagna, around Piacenza and Parma, and makes perfumed whites, still, sparkling or sweet. Malvasia Bianca di Candia is a neutral, non-aromatic grape grown mainly in Lazio, where it is part of the Frascati blend.

Candia was the Venetian name for Crete, and the name recalls the Venetian trade in Malvasia wines from the eastern Mediterranean in the Middle Ages. The aromatic type is related to other aromatic Malvasias and gives wines with a Muscat-like perfume; the Lazio type gives body and a soft texture to dry whites.

Where Malvasia di Candia Grows

• Colli Piacentini: the hills south of Piacenza, in the Val Tidone, Val Trebbia, Val Nure and Val d'Arda.
• Colli di Parma and Reggio Emilia: the hills south of Parma and around Scandiano.
• Lazio: the Castelli Romani hills southeast of Rome (Frascati) and other areas.
• Marche, Liguria and Tuscany: small plantings.

Malvasia di Candia and Italian Denominations

• Colli Piacentini DOC: varietal Malvasia, dry, sparkling, sweet or passito, and blends with Ortrugo.
• Colli di Parma DOC and Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa DOC: aromatic Malvasia from the Emilian hills.
• Emilia IGT: widely used, including for skin-contact and bottle-fermented wines.
• Frascati Superiore DOCG: Lazio whites based on Malvasia.
• Lazio IGT, Marche IGT and Colli di Luni DOC: other uses.

Flavor Profile and Tasting Notes

Aromatic (Emilia):
- Fruit: apricot, peach, orange and grapes.
- Other notes: sage, orange blossom, rose and musk.
- Structure: light to medium body; dry, frizzante or sweet.

Lazio (Frascati):
- Fruit: pear, apple and lemon.
- Other notes: almond and white flowers.
- Structure: medium body, soft texture, moderate acidity.

In the Colli Piacentini, several producers make Malvasia with long skin contact, as an amber "orange" wine with apricot, tea and spice.

Food Pairing

• Emilian food: culatello, coppa piacentina, anolini and tortelli with ricotta and herbs.
• Aperitivo: frizzante Malvasia with Parmigiano and cured meats.
• Lazio whites: porchetta, carbonara, fried artichokes and fish.
• Skin-contact wines: aged cheeses and spiced dishes.
• Sweet and passito: pastries and blue cheeses.

How to Choose and Where to Start

For the aromatic style, try a Colli Piacentini Malvasia from Monte delle Vigne, Lusenti or Torre Fornello, or the Emilian skin-contact wines of La Stoppa, whose Ageno is one of Italy's best-known orange wines, and Camillo Donati. For Lazio, try a Frascati Superiore from De Sanctis.

The aromatic type is blended with Ortrugo in the Colli Piacentini; in Lazio, Malvasia di Candia is blended with Malvasia del Lazio and Trebbiano. See also the wider Malvasia family, our best Emilia-Romagna wines, the Italian orange wine guide, or browse the grape varieties index.