Malvasia delle Lipari

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Aeolian Islands archipelago consists of seven islands of volcanic origin, including Lipari, Salina, and Vulcano, where the vine is cultivated, as well as Stromboli and Vulcano, which are active volcanoes.
• The vineyards are found from sea level to over 400 metres in altitude, on soils of volcanic origin with a predominantly sandy texture and high permeability.
• The soils are classified as regosols, lithosols, and andosols, formed on lavas and eruptive materials of varying ages, and are therefore evolving soils, generally of limited depth.
• Average annual rainfall ranges from 500 to 600 mm, concentrated in the autumn and winter months, with July and August generally dry.
• The climate of the archipelago is characterised by pronounced windiness, and the Greeks called the islands Aeolian because they believed them to be the home of Aeolus, god of the winds.
• Salina, the second largest island with an area of over 26 square kilometres, was known in antiquity as Didyme from the Greek for twins, as it is formed by two twin volcanoes, Monte dei Porri at 860 m and Fossa delle Felci at 962 m, the highest peak in the archipelago.

• Finds at Lipari of ancient coins from the fifth and fourth centuries BC bearing images of vine shoots and grape clusters attest to the ancient origins of viticulture in this geographical area.
• The passito style involves the natural sun-drying of grape bunches on reed-slat racks known as canizzi for a period of ten to fifteen to twenty days before pressing.
• The vine was traditionally trained on a very low pergola, 50–60 cm from the ground, with a structure of wood and cane built from local woody species of the Mediterranean scrubland.

• The wine displays a golden yellow or amber colour, a characteristic aromatic nose, and a sweet, aromatic, and harmonious palate.
• The palate profile is described as velvety and soft, sweet but not cloying, with great overall harmony and length.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Italy

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-A0782
• Official trade body site — Consorzio Malvasia delle Lipari