Bright, aromatic, and richly flavored, Malvasia Bianca has been grown in the Salento Peninsula since antiquity. Its compact pyramid-shaped bunches are ideal for the southern Mediterranean climate. While the continuous sea breeze of the Salento peninsula helps to keep the outer berries dry and free of rot, the tightly packed clusters protect the inner berries, keeping them intact and safe from pests.

Prized for its nuanced floral notes on the nose and its mouthwatering fruit on the palate, Malvasia Bianca makes for fresh-style, food-friendly wines with immense versatility in pairing. And Cantele’s newly released Malvasia Bianca is no exception. Winemaker Gianni Cantele’s Malvasia Bianca shows a classic note of rose petal on the nose, with vibrant tropical and citrus flavors in the mouth and a clean, lingering finish that makes you keeps you coming back to this wine.

In Salento, it’s typically paired with crudo and vegetable-based antipasti and first courses. But it’s impressive agility at the dinner table also makes it a great max for a wine variety of cuisines, from classic Cantonese cooking (where it works well with the heat) to the Baja-syle fish tacos of Southern California. Whether served with a simple dish like home-fried potato crisps or even with something more complex like classic Japanese cooking, it’s really impossible to go wrong with this refreshing white wine from Salento.