White grape variety cultivated in Apulia
The grape variety Malvasia Bianca b. is quite common in Italy and is also present in Apulia, where it is listed among the varieties suitable throughout the region.
For the white wine grape variety Malvasia Bianca b. in bibliography it is reported, as for the other Malvasie, that the name could derive from Monemvasia, Greek port, used by the Venetians since the eleventh century to embark wine to be exported to northern Europe. In many central southern areas you can find this grape variety.
Iuvarella and Verdana are also mentioned as synonyms in the bibliography. Research carried out by Antonacci D. et al. (1986) and Antonacci D. and Placco L. (1988) has shown that these vines are different both from each other and from Malvasia.
Malvasia.
Shoot tip: expanded or fan-shaped, downy, whitish-green.
Leaf: medium, pentagonal, pentalobate. Closed or open lyre-shaped petiole sinus, sometimes with overlapping lobes; U-shaped upper lateral sinuses, with slightly overlapping lobes, closed lower lateral sinuses. Slightly cone-shaped blade with upwards folded lobes.
Bunch: medium-large, pyramid-shaped, winged, medium dense.
Berry: medium-small, spheroidal. Slightly pruinose, medium thick, compact skin; green-yellowish colour.
Time of bud burst: intermediate
Flowering time: intermediate-early
Veraison: intermediate
Ripening: intermediate-early
Vigour: medium
Average bunch weight: 420 g (min 320 g – max 580 g)
Average berry weight: 1.5 g (min 1.3 g – max 1.7 g)
Average rachis weight: 21 g
Fertility of buds: 1 – 2
Potential fertility: 1.2
Actual fertility: 1
Good production, usually trained on espaliers.
Alcoholic content: 11 – 13.5 % by vol.
pH: 3.2 – 3.5
Total acidity: 5.5 – 7.5 g/l
Grapes of the Malvasia Bianca b. variety are used exclusively for wine production, usually in blends with other local varieties.
The Malvasia Bianca b. vine is quite present in Apulia. It is registered among the varieties suitable for cultivation in all Apulian production areas and is used for the s QWpsr’s Leverano, Locorotondo, San Severo, Martina or Martina Franca, Cacc’è mitte di Lucera, Gravina and Lizzano.
Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com
The data sheet of the Malvasia Bianca n., revised and updated, is extracted from: Antonacci Donato (2006). Viti di Puglia, Adda publisher. Its use is granted by the author citing the source.