Malvasia Bianca di Basilicata is a white grape variety deeply rooted in the winemaking tradition of Basilicata and belonging to the vast and ancient Malvasia family, whose name evokes the historic town of Monemvasia in the Peloponnese. Its varietal identity is distinct from that of other white Malvasias and has become firmly established within the region’s ampelographic heritage, where it has been listed among the authorised varieties since 1971. The leaf is large, orbicular or pentagonal, generally five-lobed; the bunch, of medium size, is cylindrical-conical, sometimes winged and rather loose. The berries are small, spherical, with a pruinose, green-yellow skin, which may take on golden and slightly pinkish hues as they ripen.
It is mainly grown in Basilicata, with significant plantings in the Potentino hills, the Roccanova area, the Matera region and the Upper Val d’Agri. It is an important variety in various regional wines, including Grottino di Roccanova and Matera Bianco, where it is also used in the production of sparkling wines. The wines display a bright straw-yellow colour, with fragrant aromas of white flowers, citrus fruits and pale-fleshed fruit, sometimes accompanied by delicate herbaceous notes. On the palate, they show freshness, balance and a generally light-bodied structure, with a savoury and pleasantly persistent finish. They express their immediacy best in their early years, whilst gaining harmony with a short period of ageing. An interesting fact is the frequent confusion with Malvasia Bianca Lunga, a genetically distinct grape variety.
