MALMSEY, Malvoisie, Malvasia: are titles correctly applied only to wines from the Malvasia grape--which takes its name from the Greek island of Malvasia, where the type was first produced. So highly was it then esteemed that Virgil described it as "New Nectar." "Malvasia" grapes were later cultivated in many parts of the world--in Spain, the Canary Islands, Madeira, France, Italy, Greece in general, etc.--chiefly nowadays in the first three. They are of fine flavor, though less strongly characterized than Muscats, and yield a soft and pleasing wine of delicate bouquet, which with age develops a liqueur style. The wines vary in tint from light to purple or brown, being subject both to differences in methods of manufacture and in vine selection, the Malvasia grape being found in numerous varieties and in white, purple and black colors.