Malvasia del Lazio

Also known as Malvasia Puntinata, Malvasia Gentile.

Malvasia del Lazio, widely known as Malvasia Puntinata for the small dark spots that freckle its ripe berries, is the finer and more aromatic of the two Malvasias grown in Lazio (the other being the more productive, neutral Malvasia bianca di Candia). It is a cornerstone of the Castelli Romani whites, most famously Frascati, where it lends perfume and body.

Compared with Malvasia di Candia it is lower-yielding and more aromatic, giving whites with floral and stone-fruit character, good structure and moderate acidity. It is a required or leading grape in many Lazio denominations, and the modern Roma DOC in particular is built around it, including a varietal 'Malvasia puntinata' bottling.