Malvasia di Schierano

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Malvasia di Schierano is an aromatic, dark-skinned variety of the Malvasia family of wine grapes. It is grown in the Basso Monferrato of northern Italy (Provinces of Asti and Alessandria) and also in the hills around Chieri in the Province of Turin. It is used to make red wines which are usually sweet, strongly aromatic and sparkling.

The ‘Schierano’ part of the name refers to a hamlet within the commune of Passerano Marmorito (Province of Asti) where the grape is grown to make the DOC wine Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco. In this area the grape, as well as the wine, may be called Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco, while in parts of the Province of Alessandria it is grown as Malvasia rosa. It is sometimes called Malvasia corta (‘short Malvasia’) on order to disguish it from a distinct dark-skinned Malvasia variety grown locally whose bunches are more elongated.

The buds appear in the first ten days of April, which is slightly early for vines grown in this region: Malvasia di Casorzo d'Asti another dark-skinned Malvasia grown in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria, will come into bud some ten days later. Flowers form in the first or second ten days of June. The grapes, which form relatively small, wedge-shaped clusters, start to turn colour in mid-August and ripen relatively early, during the last ten days of September. (Malvasia di Casorzo d'Asti can be expected to ripen during the first ten days of October). The ripe grapes are medium to large in size and purple-blue in colour.

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