Tracing the History of Malvasia: A Visit to the Piran Maritime Museum

Malvasia, a world-renowned grape variety that takes its name from the Greek town of Monemvasia, a fact known to only a few, is bringing together the Mediterranean this summer through the project On the Routes of Malvasia (Sulle rotte delle Malvasie). The project is a cultural initiative aimed at rediscovering the ancient history of this grape variety, which was introduced to our region through the once-powerful Republic of Venice. It was the Venetians who played a key role in introducing Malvasia to the wider world.

The project team is following a route that begins in the medieval port town of Monemvasia, located on an island off the coast of the Peloponnese, and continues along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas all the way to Venice. These days, their voyage aboard the sailing yacht Jancris is taking them to ports and destinations where Malvasia is still cultivated today. One of these stops is Piran, the jewel of the Slovenian coast.

 

On 15 June 2026, the project team — journalist and writer Maurizio Crema, cultural project designer Pietrangelo Pettenò, writer and skipper Alfredo Giacon, and Renato Carafa, President of the Italian Naval League – University Section of Rome — met with the museum's management and the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Piran as part of their research into the local history of Malvasia.

 

The information they gathered, together with other fascinating stories shared by local storytellers and experts, will be featured in a documentary exploring the history of Malvasia and its wine producers.