Malvasia is a common name or synonym (several names for one variety) and homonym (one name for several varieties) for numerous grape varieties, especially in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Of the more than 100 varieties, however, only some are genetically related. They exist in the berry colours white, light green, grey, rosé, red, blue and black with different taste characteristics or aromas, for example with and without muscat tone. In summary, the grape varieties with "Malvasia" in their name have a genetically diverse background and show an equally heterogeneous morphology (external appearance). That is, there are no particular Malvasia-specific characteristics. The name Malvasia therefore relatively often names a type of wine, but not a family of grape varieties that is often wrongly called this (the same phenomenon also applies to the four groups of names Lambrusco, Muscat, Trebbiano and Vernaccia).
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