malvasia

/ˌmalvəˈsɪə/

Etymology

From Italian, from Ancient Greek Μονεμβασία (Monembasía, “Monemvasia”, a city on the Peloponnese), from μόνος (mónos, “only one”) + ἔμβασις (émbasis, “entering into”, ἐν + βάσις). Doublet of malvoisie.

noun

  1. A variety of grape, originally from the region of the Aegean, now used to make malmsey wine.