P.D.O. Monemvasia-Malvasia / Μονεμβασία-Malvasia

The historic harbour town (also Malvasy, Monembasia, Monemvassia) is located on a rock off the coast of the province of Laconia on the south-eastern side of the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece. It was known as the "Gibraltar of the East" due to its impregnability. It owes its name to its location, "moni embasia" meaning "only entrance". In an extremely chequered history, it was under the rule of Byzantium, the Franks, Byzantium again, the Ottomans, the Pope, Venice, then the Ottomans again, Venice once more and finally the Turks, until it finally fell to Greece in 1821 during the Greek War of Liberation.

Malvasia dessert wine

In the late Middle Ages, particularly under Venetian rule, the city was a famous wine trading centre for sweet wines from the Aegean, especially from the islands of Crete (Candia), Paros, Santorini (Thira) and Cyprus, which were shipped from here to many European countries. This gave rise to the collective name Malvasia for the mostly sweet dessert wines made from various grape varieties that are often not even related. However, there is also an autochthonous Greek grape variety called Monemvasia, which was also used.

Monemvasia-Malvasia appellation

The Monemvasia-Malvasia appellation was created in 2010. It comprises the regions of Asopos, Molai, Monemvasia and Vies in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is a revival of the historic sweet wine. A two-year oxidative ageing period is prescribed; for longer ageing, it must be four years or a multiple (8, 16 etc.). Different vintages can also be blended, similar to the sherry-solera method, whereby the most recent vintage must be indicated on the label. The wine must be made from dried grapes of the Monemvasia (51%), Assyrtiko, Asproudes and Kydonitsa varieties. There is a Liastos and a liqueur wine.