Muscat (grape and wine)

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For other uses, see muscat.

The muscat family of grapes of the species Vitis vinifera are widely grown for wine, raisins and table grapes. They range in color from white to almost black, but almost always have a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Muscat grapes are grown around the world in Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Australia, California, Hungary, Canada and other places. The breadth and number of varieties of muscat suggest that it is very old, perhaps the oldest domesticated grape variety. There are theories that most families within the Vitis vinifera grape family are descended from the Muscat family. ^[1]

Contents 1 Muscat Wines 1.1 Moscato d'Asti 2 Muscat Wines by Country 2.1 Australia 2.2 Bulgaria 2.3 South Africa 2.4 United States 2.5 France 2.6 Italy 2.7 Spain 2.8 Portugal 2.9 Austria and Hungary 2.10 Romania 2.11 Greece 2.12 Cyprus 2.13 Ukraine 2.14 North Africa 2.15 New Zealand 3 Varieties of Muscat Grapes 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Muscat Wines

Muscat is widely grown in Portugal and Spain, where the grape and the wines produced from it are known as Moscatel or Muscatel. Among these wines is Moscatel de Setubal a sweet fortified wine from the Setúbal Peninsula in Portugal. Moscatel de Favaios is a Moscatel from the Douro Region. A Moscatel Madeira wine is also produced on the island of Madeira, although Moscatel has become increasingly rare there over the last century.

A variety of muscat is one of only three grapes allowed for making sherry.

In Australia, producers in Rutherglen use muscat grapes to make a highly regarded fortified wine of the same name using the solera system.^[2] Muscat grapes are one of the major varieties grown for table wine in Chile, and is a minor variety in California and Italy.

In Lithuania it is used for sparkling wine like Alita.

Muscat wine is also the basis for the brandy like Pisco, made in Peru and Chile, and Metaxa, a liqueur made in Greece.

Muscat Ottonel is also successfully grown by a few vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, USA. Currently it is produced into a Alsatian styled wine by McGregor Vineyard Winery on Keuka Lake.

Muscat is also used to make a range of French and Italian wines, such as the famous 'Muscat de Beaumes de Venise' vin doux naturel wines from the Rhone Valley in France. In Italy, it is widely used in sweeter sparkling wines like Asti. Their 'grapey' quality makes many wines made from Muscat easy to identify.

[edit] Moscato d'Asti

Moscato d'Asti is a lightly sparkling (frizzante) variety of Muscat, made from Moscato Bianco grapes in the Piedmont region of Italy. This region has a DOCG designation, and is also known for the production of Barbera d’Asti, Dolcetto d’Asti, and Asti Spumante.

[edit] Muscat Wines by Country

[edit] Australia

Brown Muscat has pride of place in north-east Victoria's Rutherglen district, and is generally regarded to be one of the world's greatest fortified wines. High quality Muscats are also produced in other mainland states. Riverina producer Miranda makes a raisined Muscat in passito style.

[edit] Bulgaria

Muscat Ottonel is grown in the Black Sea region and in the Danubian Plain, while Muscatel is a well-known style in the Rose Valley.

[edit] South Africa

Muscat is known as Muscadel or Hanepoort, and can be either red or white. Like Australian Muscats, these can be high-quality fortified wines while Constantia is known for late-harvest Muscat of great standing.

[edit] United States

Muscat wines produced in California include the Muscat de Beulieu, a fortified wine from the Napa Valley and the Conundrum wine, which is a mix of Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. In California's Central Valley the Muscat cross Black Muscat is used to make dessert wine.

[edit] France

Muscat is best known for producing

• Vins Doux Naturels (Natural Sweet Wines) in Frontignan, Lunel, Mireval, St Jean De Minervois, Rivesaltes, Beaumes de Venise and Cap Corse.
• Alsace Muscat is primarily dry, but can also be made in sweeter styles (Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles)

[edit] Italy

Muscat (Moscato) grows throughout Italy in various forms. In dessert form it is either passito or fortified, but it also appears in sparkling wines (spumante).

[edit] Spain

Fortified Muscat (Moscatel) is produced in Catalonia, Valencia, Alicante, Andalucia and the Canary Islands.

[edit] Portugal

Muscat (Moscatel) makes the much-revered Moscatel de Setubal and Moscatel de Favaios among others.

[edit] Austria and Hungary

In both Austria and Hungary, Muscat wines ranging from dry to very sweet are produced.

[edit] Romania

Romania has Muscat plantings for various dry and sweet styles.

[edit] Greece

Muscat dessert wines are produced on Samos, Rhodes, Patras and Cephalonia.

[edit] Cyprus

Muscat dessert wines are also produced in Cyprus, analogous to those produced in Greece.

[edit] Ukraine

The Crimea region is home to dessert wines of reverence, with white, pink and black Muscat being given pride of place.

[edit] North Africa

Fortified Muscat wines are produced in Tunisia and Morocco.

[edit] New Zealand

Muscat is used for dessert wines.

[edit] Varieties of Muscat Grapes

• Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (also called Muscat Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Frontignan, Moscato Bianco, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat d'Alsace, Muskateller, Muscatel de Grano Menudo, Moscatel Rosé and Sárgamuskotály). This grape is used for the wines: Asti, clairette de die, and muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. It is also used for some Tokaji wines.
• Moscato Giallo (or Goldmuskateller) and Moscato Rosa (or Rosenmuskateller) are thought to be closely related colored versions of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
• Moscatel de Setúbal and Moscatel de Favaios are the most widely consumed varieties in Portugal, usually served in bars or as an aperitif at restaurants.
• Muscat of Alexandria (also called Moscatel, Moscatel Romano, Moscatel de Málaga, Gordo Blanco, Hanepoot, Lexia, Moscatel Gordo, and Zibibbo) This grape is used for sherry, moscatel or muscatel wines, Muscatel de Valencia, Muscatel Passito and other Muscatel liqueurs and also as a raisin and table grape.
• Muscat Ottonel (also called Moskately) Used for dessert wines in Austria and Croatia, and dry wines in Alsace and Hungary.
• Muscat Hamburg (also called Black Muscat, Moscato di Amburgo) Used for some Eastern European wine but mainly for table grapes in Italy and Australia.
• Orange Muscat. Used for dessert wines in California and Australia. Not surprisingly, has something of an orange aroma.
• Muscat Crocant. Used for dessert wine of the same name (Muskat Krokan) in Serbia, where it grows only on Pearl Island (Biserno Ostrvo) on Tisza River.

[edit] References

1. ^ J. Robinson Vines Grapes & Wines pg 183 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996
2. ^ Rutherglen Muscat Classification — Solera system

[edit] External links

• Muscats Du Monde - website of an international Muscats competition.