Malvasia Fina is a green grape* from Portugal.
Characteristics
Malvasia Fina is quite forgiving, showing resistance to some of the diseases one might find in the vineyard. In a good year, it does however need green harvest as it otherwise will tend to give large yields, resulting in lower quality grapes.
Being a grape with naturally medium level of acidity, it is also quite common to harvest early in order to retain as much acidity as possible. Flavours are fruity, floral and fragrant.
Wines
In Douro Malvasia Fina is one of the varieties used for making white Port. If from Tejo or Dão they are used for producing dry varietal white wines. Here they are allowed to grow on higher altitudes, contributing to an increased crispness.
You can find dry varietal Malvasina Fina wines with as well as without having been submitted to fermentation in oak barrels. With an acidity level that is medium, you can expect a dry varietal Malvasia Fina wine to be fairly fresh with a moderate complexity.
If grown on higher altitude, wines will be crispier. A number of the Tejo and Dão wines are good for ageing.
Food pairing
If you’re having a high altitude dry varietal, you might want to pair it with fish, shellfish, or have it as an aperitif. Best served at 8°C/46°F – 10°C/50°F. If you’re having a wine that has grown on a
lower altitude and / or has been aged in oak barrels, you will want to have it with richer food, for example a salmon dish. The wine is best served at 10°C/50°F – 12°C/54°F.
Where is it grown?
Malvaisa Fina’s heartland is in Portugal. With plantings of 2.930 ha/7,240 ac, it is the eighteen most planted variety in the country.
Its heartland is in the country’s north-eastern part with the largest acreage in Tras-os-Montes (2.247 ha/5,552 ac).
Plantings of various size are found in all Portuguese regions although the focus is in the north and north-east of the country.
Malvasia Fina is grown also in Spain where plantings of 478 ha/1,181 ac are reported. Not surprisingly, Galicia, e.g. the north-western region bordering to Portugal’s north and north-east, report the largest plantings (265 ha/655 ac). The variety is planted in seven other regions as well.
There is a small acreage 8 ha/20 acc reported also from Uruguay
History
Malvasia Fina is recognised as a Portuguese variety with its origin in either Dão or the Duero.
*The name Malvasia Fina is also used as synonyms for three other grape varieties (Arinto, Trebbiano Toscano, and Vital), which have no known connections to the grape presented here.