Malvoisie

A name as confusing in France as Malvasia is in Italy. A wide range of often unrelated varieties are called Malvoisie although most are light-berried and make full-bodied, aromatic white wines. Perhaps it is most commonly encountered, in the Loire, Savoie and Switzerland, as a synonym for Pinot Gris. The Languedoc's Bourboulenc and Maccabéo, Roussillon's Tourbat and Corsica's Vermentino have all been called Malvoisie in their time, however.