# Cuvée Convivium — Guide to Italian Grape Ale IGA

**By Massimiliano Gusmeo** · 2025-09-29

## Buy Italian Grape Ale (IGA) online: Cuvée Convivium and more

Italian Grape Ales are the most exciting hybrid style in craft beer today — where brewing meets winemaking. On Maltese you can order two exceptional IGAs: **[Cuvée Convivium by Birra Gaia](https://maltese.beer/products/cuvee-convivium)** (Chardonnay and Merlot vinacce, dry and persistent with strawberry and tropical fruit notes) and **[IGA Moscato di Scanzo by Qubeer](https://maltese.beer/products/qubeer-iga-moscato-di-scanzo)** (20% Moscato di Scanzo must, incredible aging potential). Both available online with fast delivery across Italy.

**[🛒 Buy Cuvée Convivium on Maltese](https://maltese.beer/products/cuvee-convivium)**

**[🛒 Buy IGA Moscato di Scanzo on Maltese](https://maltese.beer/products/qubeer-iga-moscato-di-scanzo)**

## What is an Italian Grape Ale (IGA)?

Italian Grape Ale is a hybrid beer style that blends brewing techniques with winemaking ingredients. Brewers add grape-derived elements — juice, must, or vinacce (pomace) — to a beer base to create aromas and flavors more typical of wine: vinous fruit, bright acidity, and sometimes tannic structure. IGAs range from light and sparkling to fuller-bodied and complex, depending on the grapes and production method.

## Why choose an IGA?

-   **Unique flavor profile:** the intersection of beer and wine — aromatic complexity you won’t find in either alone
-   **Italian terroir:** each IGA reflects the grape variety and region it comes from
-   **Versatile at the table:** acidity and fruit lift cut through rich flavors while the beer body supports savory dishes
-   **Aging potential:** some IGAs (like IGA Moscato di Scanzo) evolve beautifully over time

## How is an IGA made?

-   **Co-fermentation:** fresh grape must is fermented together with the wort
-   **Secondary addition:** grape must or pomace is added during secondary fermentation to preserve aromatics
-   **Blend:** fermented beer is blended with a low-alcohol fermented grape must for balance and acidity

**[Cuvée Convivium](https://maltese.beer/products/cuvee-convivium)** uses Chardonnay and Merlot vinacce pre-fermented at low ABV and high acidity — a masterclass in the blending technique.

## Food pairings

-   **Seafood and shellfish:** oysters, grilled shrimp, ceviche — acidity complements briny flavors
-   **Cured meats:** prosciutto, salumi — grape fruitiness echoes the cured-sweet notes
-   **Soft and aged cheeses:** ricotta, pecorino, young goat cheeses
-   **Light desserts:** berry panna cotta, fruit tarts, citrus-based desserts
-   **[Artisan snacks from Maltese](https://maltese.beer/collections/food-artigianale)** for a premium aperitivo

## How to serve IGAs

-   **Temperature:** 6–10 °C to concentrate aromas
-   **Glass:** tulip or white-wine-style glass — **[explore our glassware selection](https://maltese.beer/collections/bicchieri)**
-   **Pour:** gently, observe clarity and carbonation; take small sips to identify winey aromas first

## Buy Italian Grape Ales on Maltese

-   **[🛒 Buy Cuvée Convivium — Birra Gaia](https://maltese.beer/products/cuvee-convivium)**
-   **[🛒 Buy IGA Moscato di Scanzo — Qubeer](https://maltese.beer/products/qubeer-iga-moscato-di-scanzo)**
-   **[🍺 Explore all craft beers on Maltese](https://maltese.beer/collections/birre)**
-   **[🏷️ Build your tasting box](https://maltese.beer/collections/box-birra)**

**Tags:** birra artigianale italiana, birra e vino, Birra Gaia, IGA, Italian Grape Ale, Qubeer

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> Source: [Maltese](https://maltese.beer/blogs/inceptions/cuvee-convivium-guide-to-italian-grape-ale-iga)