Wine grape variety grown in Apulia

Malvasia Nera di Lecce n.

A wine grape of ancient cultivation in Apulia, especially in the Salento area. It is listed among the varieties suitable for cultivation throughout the region.

Origin and Historical Outline

Malvasia Nera di Lecce n. is an old wine grape whose origin is unknown. It has spread in Apulia, especially in the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto. It is very similar to the black Malvasia of Brindisi. The accessions of the two Malvasie, of Lecce and of Brindisi, submitted to the analysis of the DNA near the Experimental Institute for the Viticulture (currently CREA-VE), have turned out identical. In the present state of knowledge, these results can be considered definitive. Any differences found can be attributed to the intravarietal variability.

Synonyms

Malvasia, Malvasia nera, Malvasia niura.

Shoot tip: expanded, fluffy, white-yellowish with pink-purplish edge.

Leaf: medium or large, pentagonal, pentalobate. Open lyre-shaped petiole sinus; closed lyreshaped lateral sinuses. Arachnoid upper and lower sides.

Bunch: medium, dense in young plants, loose in adult plants; elongated cone shape, plain or winged.

Berry: medium, spheroidal; pruinose, thin skin; pulpy flesh.

Phenology

Time of bud burst: intermediate

Flowering time: intermediate

Veraison: intermediate-late

Ripening: intermediate-late

Agronomic and Cultural Characteristics

Vigour: medium

Average bunch weight: 330 g (min 240 g – max 430 g)

Average berry weight: 2.9 g (min 2.7 g – max 3.2 g)

Number of seeds per berry: 2 4

Average rachis weight: 21 g

Fertility of buds: 1 – 2

Potential fertility: 1.2

Actual fertility: 0.9

Environmental and Cultural Requirements

Fair and consistent production. Yields grapes with a moderate sugar content, quite rich in fixed acidity, though.

Chemical Features of the Wine

Alcoholic content: 10 – 12.5 % by vol.

pH: 3.15 – 3.40

Total acidity: 7.5 – 10 g/l

Oenological Use and Sensorial Properties of the Wine

The Malvasia Nera di Lecce n. grape is almost always used for vinification in blends with Negroamaro, to which it gives the right alcohol content, flavour and greater body.

The result is a fine, alcoholic, deep ruby red table wine with a pleasant aroma and a harmonious, velvety taste.

Economic Significance and Geographic Distribution

The Malvasia Nera di Lecce n. vine is present in Apulia, especially in Salento. It is registered among the wine grape varieties suitable for cultivation in all Apulian production areas.

In Apulia it is used for the production of QWpsr Alezio, Copertino, Leverano, Salice Salentino, Squinzano, Lizzano and Gioia del Colle.

Author and Source

Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com

The data sheet of the Malvasia Nera di Lecce 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.