Palava is a grape variety used to make white wines in Eastern Europe, and particularly in the Czech Republic. It is a crossing of Müller-Thurgau and Roter Traminer, and bears some resemblance to its parents, making full-bodied, aromatic wines in both sweet and dry styles with tropical fruit characters and a characteristic spiciness.
The Czech variety was obtained in the 1950s in Moravia in the southeast of the country, and has not spread far beyond its homeland. Here, the sunny yet relatively cool climate suits the late-ripening variety, and Palava wines tend to show sufficient acidity to balance out the richness of the fruit.
Outside of the Czech Republic, Palava is planted in Slovakia, albeit in small quantities.
Food pairings for Palava wines include:
- Noodle salad with white fish and chili (dry)
- Fresh fruit salad with marscapone (sweet)
- Pavlova (sweet)
