References to Malvasia vines have been discovered in contracts of the 14th and 16th centuries, and they are also described in texts by medieval historians. Today in Crete no variety with this name is preserved, except for some isolated vines. However Malvasia is cultivated in Paros, on an area of about 2,500,000 sq. m around Prophitis Ilias Mountain, and the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) Malvasia of Paros has been established (2011).

In the early 1990s, vines named Malvasia di Candia and Malvasia Aromatica were imported from Italy. Since then, about 500,000 sq. m have been planted in Heraklion Prefecture. Using genetic and ampelographic criteria, an attempt has been made to correlate the individual vines discovered in Crete with Malvasia Paros, Malvasia di Candia and Malvasia Aromatica.

Malvasia is a variety of normal liveliness and robustness, productive, mid-early. The grape is medium to large, cylindrical to cylindrical-conical, with medium density. The grapes have equal size, and they are ellipsoidal with yellow skin, medium to large thickness, very sweet, juicy flesh, and a characteristic aroma.

It adapts easily to a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions with excellent productivity in light, gravelly, well-drained soils of medium fertility. It is sensitive to drought, hot winds, powdery mildew, downy mildew and botrytis.

Most probably this variety is the descendant of the medieval variety which produced the legendary Malvasia wine.

In a manuscript by Giuane (John) Papadopoulou, which is preserved in the Corer Museum in Venice, there is a reference to “malvasias … whose color alone cheered you up, before you even put them in your mouth, golden like a freshly cut ducat“.

This variety produces wines with rich aromas, intense fruity taste and a Muscat aftertaste.