white grape · regional specialty
Malvar
Madrid province, Spain
Say it
mahl·bar
Two syllables; stress on the second. The 'l' is clearly articulated; rhymes with English 'bar'.
On the palate
Body
medium
Acidity
medium plus
Aromatics
medium
lemongreen applepearwhite peachmelonalmond
How you spot it blind: bitter almond note with crisp acidity from high-altitude Madrid vineyards
The story
First written down · 1885, Madrid province
DNA profiling confirmed Malvar's parentage as Hebén × Tortozón and separated it from Airén and Lairén, which had long been treated as synonyms.
Family tree: HEBEN × TORTOZON
Where it lives
Vinos de Madrid DO (Arganda, Navalcarnero subzones) · Mondéjar DO
Shows up as
still whitesweet