Today’s variety is another Malvasia. It is called Malvasia Bianca di Candia. It’s grows primarily in Lazio but also in Emilia Romagna, Le Marche, Umbria, Tuscany and Liguria. It is also sometimes called Malvasia Rossa because of the color the buds take on. However it must be distinguished from Malvasia di Candia. It likes to grow on hills but can also manage clay and dry soils. It prefers a warm climate. It makes a less aromatic wine than the other Malvasia di Candia. This one makes wines that are straw yellow in color, a tad sality or sapid, with a bitter note on the finish. It is usually blended with other grapes because it tends to oxidize. It is found in wines from Colli di Parma DOC, and often in Cerveteri, Circeo, Colli Lanuvini, Cori, Frascati, Genazzano, Montecomprati Colonna, Gardiolo, and Zagarolo.

I found this producer, Azienda Viticola Di Marzio who is focused on Malvasia di Candia and Trebbiano Toscano not far from Rome. Apparently they are organic. They write on their website that this variety grows well in dry soils without too much calcareous material. They are located in the town of Lanuvino which is a vulcano.

It looks like a winery that I would like to visit the next time I am in Rome. Infact the whole area seems interesting. I have a dear friend who lives in Zagarolo so I have spent a lot of time there but never in the other areas of the Castelli Romani. I look forward to my next trip and to visiting this winery. Not enough is written about wines from Lazio in my view.