malvasia

noun

mal·​va·​sia ˌmal-və-ˈzē-ə 

-ˈsē-

often capitalized

: a medium to large cultivated grape of Mediterranean regions that is often blended with other grape varieties to produce aromatic dry or sweet wines

Examples of malvasia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For his part in a plot against Edward’s reign, George was drowned in what Penn clarifies as a sweet Greek wine called malvasia. —Steve Donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2020

This lovely white is a blend of riesling (which contributes acidity), malvasia (aromatics) and chardonnay (body). —Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 7 June 2019

Everything about growing the ramisco and malvasia grapes is hard work. —Eric Asimov, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2017

Cheap Madeira is generally made out of a blend of grapes, but the best bottles tend to come from four principal grapes in ascending order from driest to sweetest: sercial, verdelho, bual and malmsey, which is better known elsewhere as malvasia. —Eric Asimov, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2016

Word History

Etymology

Italian, a sweet wine, from Modern Greek Monobasia Monemvasia, village in Greece

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above