THE HISTORY AND MYTH OF THE MALVASIA WINE

MALVASIA WINE

Malvasia wine was famous as early as the 12th century. According to evidence and historical data, it originates from the castle town of Monemvasia (Malvasia) at the foot of Mount Malevos (Parnonas) in the southern Peloponnese, indicating a geographical and historical designation of origin.

«No other wine gained such fame during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and no other wine since then had such an interesting story».

Stavroula Kourakou

FIRST REFERENCES

In 1214, the bishop of Ephesus, Nicholas Mesaritis, mentioned that “Monemvasios” wine, famous for its quality, was offered in great quantity at the imperial table in Latin-ruled Constantinople.

In 1278, a Venetian document refers to the piracy of a ship with a load of Malvasia wine. Moreover, in 1301, the Chrysobulus of Andronikos II Palaiologos refers to vineyards in the region of Monemvasia.

FIRST REFERENCES

In 1214, the bishop of Ephesus, Nicholas Mesaritis, mentioned that “Monemvasios” wine, famous for its quality, was offered in great quantity at the imperial table in Latin-ruled Constantinople.

In 1278, a Venetian document refers to the piracy of a ship with a load of Malvasia wine. Moreover, in 1301, the Chrysobulus of Andronikos II Palaiologos refers to vineyards in the region of Monemvasia.

Cultivation and trade in Venice

In the vineyards on the hillsides of Parnonas (Malevos), a local variety of grapes was cultivated, from which a sweet smooth wine from sunny grapes, “Monemvasion” or “Monemvasiotis” or “Monemvasia”, was produced.

Due to significant commercial expansion during the Byzantine period, the Monemvasians traders marketed the wine of Monemvasia, which Venetian and Genoese merchants sold under the name ‘Malvasia’.

n the 14th century it was exported in large quantities from Monemvasia through the islands of Paros/Cyclades and Crete (Candia).

According to Mrs. Stavroula Kourakou, former President of the OIV – International Organization of Vine and Wine, “The domination of the Greek wine Monemvasia-Malvasia in the markets of the East and West lasted for five centuries. Its production started before the 13th century in Byzantine Monemvasia … No other wine gained so much fame during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and no other name of wine from that time to the present has such an interesting history…

The name in French and English

French merchants sold it as “Malvoisie”, while in England it was known as “Malmsey”.

The journey ends (but not the myth)

The occupation of Monemvasia by the Ottomans had the consequence of destroying the vineyards and the production there. Malvasia’s journey continued in Venetian-occupied Crete until the middle of the 17th century. During that period, he travelled to all the markets of the East and West.

Malvasia wine was exported to all the ports of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, even to the most exclusive markets of Europe.

The journey ends (but not the myth)

The occupation of Monemvasia by the Ottomans had the consequence of destroying the vineyards and the production there. Malvasia’s journey continued in Venetian-occupied Crete until the middle of the 17th century. During that period, he travelled to all the markets of the East and West.

Malvasia wine was exported to all the ports of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, even to the most exclusive markets of Europe.

References from famous artists and scholars

The reputation of the Malvasia wine is reflected in many references by important personalities of culture and art.

In the play “Richard the Third” (1595) by William Shakespeare, the Duke of Clarence is murdered and drowned “in a Malvasia barrel” (Malmsey butt). Leonardo da Vinci had his own small vineyard of Malvasia in Milan, the Nobel-winning writer Thomas Mann brings two bottles of Malvasia from the cellar in his work “Buddenbrooks”,

Martin Luther, Alexandre Dumas and Guy de Maupasant often refer to Malvasia, Giuseppe Garibaldi grew Malvasia in Carpera, Sardinia, while the composer Giuseppe Verdi was a good friend of the Malvasia wine.

MALVASIA WINE NOWADAYS

Malvasia grapes are cultivated in various types. The Malvasia wine production is expanded outside the Mediterranean and Europe (Croatia, Italy, Spain, Portugal), to countries such as the USA (California, Arizona, New Mexico), Argentina, Brazil and Australia.

The name Malvasia has been used for various grape varieties as well as similar wines, frequently different from the original Monemvasia wine. This triggered the production of Malvasia in many regions, building its own myth about the variety and the wine, sometimes with disagreements about the origin of the variety, its authenticity and even scientific documentation.
In Greece the revival of Malvasia started in Monemvasia at the beginning of the 21st century and today 4 PDO Malvasia wines are produced in Monemvasia, Paros and Crete.

A modern 1000-year-old Myth!

Malvasia wine is a form of cultural expression that never stops evolving, is connected to its location and history and invites us to experience its mythical journey from Monemvasia to the world.