Matosevic Alba Malvazija 2018

Drink now through to 2022. Serve chilled.

This bright and lively white wine is crafted from the local Malvazija Istarska or Malvasia Istriana grape which is one of Croatia’s oldest and most respected indigenous varietals. It has been grown in Istria since the ancient Greek era and produces many of Croatia’s finest white wines.

Ivica Matošević’s Alba Malvazija is widely regarded as a benchmark example of the variety and reveals Ivica’s immense talent and passion for winemaking. Ivica choose to leave his PhD in agriculture to pursue winemaking and has quickly become a leading voice in the promotion of Croatian wines. His winery in Istria has been a key player in the quality revolution in the Croatian wine industry and he has even been described by Steven Spurrier as the country’s top winemaker.

Ivica sources the grapes for this wine from vineyards at 200 to 300 metres of altitude which enjoy a warm Mediterranean climate. To produce the best quality grapes possible Ivica minimises the use of chemicals in the vineyard and gently presses the grapes in the vineyard to avoid over-extraction. He then ferments the must in stainless steel tanks and ages the wine on the lees over the winter to create an aromatic wine with notes of acacia flowers, citrus, and green apples balanced by a creamy texture and bright acidity.