» Malvasia nera
As mentioned above, the origins of the Malvasia family are to be found in the eastern Mediterranean. It is a large family, covering the whole of Italy: Malvasia grapes are grown from Piemonte to Apulia, from Sicily to Lazio and Tuscany. Over the last two centuries, many experts have tried their hand at identifying the numerous and diverse varieties carrying this name.
Sometimes the grapes have a simple flavour, sometimes it is aromatic or faintly aromatic. Their capacity for vinification also varies.
Among the Malvasia varieties with coloured fruit (black or red) we find the Malvasia Nera di Lecce, Nera di Brindisi and Nera di Basilicata. What is missing from the Nera di Lecce is that bitterish muscat taste which is typical of almost all the Malvasia varieties throughout Italy in Spain.
And it produces a fairly tannin-rich wine of a deep, ruby red colour. Rarely used in its pure state, it is blended with other grape varieties and also used to make rosé wines.
It contributes to the Squinzano, Salice Salentino, Leverano, Copertino, Alezio and Nardò DOC compositions.
Its leaves are medium-sized, pentagonal and five-lobed. The bunches are large and the dark blue grapes have an elliptical shape and highly pruinous skin.
