Muscat (grape and wine)
Encyclopedia
The Muscat variety of grape
s of the species Vitis vinifera
is widely grown for wine
, raisin
s and table grape
s. Their color ranges from white to near black. Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Muscat grapes are grown around the world. The breadth and number of varieties of muscat suggest that it is perhaps the oldest domesticated grape variety, and there are theories that most families within the Vitis vinifera grape variety are descended from the Muscat variety.
All together there are a couple of hundred Muscat varieties recorded, with many overlapping synonyms.
in Chile
, and is a minor variety in California
and Italy
. In Italy, it is widely used in sweeter sparkling wines like Asti
. Their 'grapey' quality makes many wines made from Muscat easy to identify. Moscato d'Asti
is a lightly sparkling (frizzante) variety of Muscat, made from the Moscato Bianco (Muscato Canelli) grape of 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. In Lithuania
, it is also used for making a sparkling wine
called Alita.
wines are also made from Muscat grapes. Officially, Muscato is not classified as a dessert wine.
Muscat is widely grown in Portugal and Spain, where the grape and the wines produced from it are known as Moscatel or Muscatel. Moscatels made in these countries are typically sweet and fortified. 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
has also been produced on the island of Madeira
, although Moscatel has become increasingly rare there over the last century.
In Spain
, sweet fortified Moscatels are produced in a number of regions, notably Malaga
and Jerez, and are sometimes made using the solera
system. A variety of muscat is one of the varietals used in the production of sherry
and according to Spanish law, it is one of only three grapes varietals allowed for this purpose.
Muscat is successfully grown in California's east-central San Joaquin Valley, where orange muscat and black muscat varieties form the basis of premium dessert wines.
France also produces a number of sweet fortified vins doux naturels from muscat grapes, such as Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Muscat de Rivesaltes
, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de Lunel, Muscat de Mireval, and Muscat de St-Jean Minervois.
In Australia, sweet fortified muscat wines are produced in the Rutherglen
region, with older wines made according to the solera system.
, a brandy
-like drink made in Peru
and Chile
, and Metaxa
, a brandy
-like drink made in Greece
.
A blend of Muscatel wine and mead is called Muscadore.
Muscat grapes have been found to have high concentrations of antioxidant flavonoids, in quantities as high as many varieties of red grapes. This means that the possible beneficial effects of red wine consumption may also be present in muscat wines.
XAN Maral Göl Muscat Wine which is the product of the oldest wine factory in Azerbaijan.
region and in the Danubian Plain
, while Muscatel is a well-known style in the Rose Valley
.
Vins Doux Naturels (Natural Sweet Wines) in Frontignan
, Lunel
, Mireval
, Saint-Jean-de-Minervois
, Rivesaltes
, Beaumes de Venise and Cap Corse
. Muscat d'Alsace, which is primarily dry but can also be made in sweeter styles (Vendange tardive
and Sélection de Grains Nobles
)
. A number of towns are named Moschaton (Μοσχάτο) after the Greek name for the grapes.
, Mátra and Balaton wine regions under the name of Muscat Lunel or Sárgamuskotály (Yellow Muscat) in Hungarian. Sárgamuskotály wines can range from light, dry and refreshing to late harvest sweet or even botrytized dry or sweet wines. Botrytized Sárgamuskotály is often an ingredient in Tokaji sweet and "aszú" wines.
Muscat Ottonel used to be very popular once, but it is on the decline now and rarely shows up as a quality wine.
.
is grown in Okayama Prefecture
for juices and sweet white wines.
, sweet muscat wines have been popular in Serbia since the Middle Ages. They are grown mainly in the Župa
region of central Serbia, near Mount Kopaonik
and also in the Negotin
region in the Danubian basin.
, the Valencian Community
, Navarre
, Aragón
and Catalonia
, and the Canary Islands
.
It is also used to produce some dry white wines — sometimes blended with other grape varieties.
is often said to have a flavour reminiscent of muscatel, although the similarity is purely coincidental as the tea contains no grape products.
Muscat tea, a (non-alcoholic) flavor of iced tea
, similar to the better-known lemon tea and peach tea flavors, is available in Japan
. In Japan muscat is also a popular flavor for soft drinks and desserts. Products range from a muscat-flavored Calpis
, to muscat-flavored ice being sold at Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants all over Japan. The color usually associated with Muscat-flavored products in Japan is green.
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
s of the species Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran....
is widely grown for wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, raisin
Raisin
Raisins are dried grapes. They are produced in many regions of the world. Raisins may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking and brewing...
s and table grape
Table grape
Table grapes are grapes intended for consumption while they are fresh, as opposed to grapes grown for wine production, juice production, or for drying into raisins....
s. Their color ranges from white to near black. Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Muscat grapes are grown around the world. The breadth and number of varieties of muscat suggest that it is perhaps the oldest domesticated grape variety, and there are theories that most families within the Vitis vinifera grape variety are descended from the Muscat variety.
Varieties
- Muscat Blanc à Petits GrainsMuscat Blanc à Petits GrainsMuscat Blanc à Petits Grains is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. Its name comes from its characteristic small berry size and tight clusters...
(also called Muscat Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Frontignan, Moscato Bianco, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat d'Alsace, Muskateller, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Moscatel Rosé, Muscat Lunel, Sárgamuskotály, Moscatell de gra petit and Yellow Muscat). This grape is used for the wines: Asti, clairette de die, and muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. It is also used for some TokajiTokajiTokaji is the name of the wines from the region of Tokaj-Hegyalja in Hungary and Slovakia. The name Tokaji is used for labeling wines from this wine district. This region is noted for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region...
wines. - Muscat Rose à Petit Grains, Muscat Rouge à Petit Grains, Moscato Giallo (or Goldmuskateller), Moscato Rosa (or Rosenmuskateller) are thought to be closely related colored versions of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
- Moscatel de SetúbalSetúbalSetúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants....
and Moscatel de Favaios are the most widely consumed varieties in Portugal, usually served in bars or as an aperitif at restaurants. - Muscat of AlexandriaMuscat of AlexandriaMuscat of Alexandria is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. It is considered an "ancient vine", and wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence...
(also called Moscatel, Moscatel Romano, Moscatel de Málaga, Muscat Gordo Blanco, Hanepoot, Lexia, Moscatel, Gordo, and Zibibbo) This grape is used for sherrySherrySherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
, moscatel or muscatel wines, Moscatel de Valencia, Muscatel Passito and other Muscatel liqueurLiqueurA liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
s and also as a raisin and table grape. - Muscat OttonelMuscat OttonelMuscat Ottonel or Muskat-Ottonel is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. It is most notable for its use in dessert wines from Austria, Croatia and Serbia as well as dry wines from Alsace and Hungary...
(also called Moskately) Used for dessert wines in RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, SloveniaSloveniaSlovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, and UkraineUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and dry wines in AlsaceAlsaceAlsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, SlovakiaSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. - Black MuscatBlack MuscatBlack Muscat is a Vitis vinifera grape variety derived from the crossing of the Schiava Grossa and Muscat of Alexandria varieties. It is known under a variety of local names such as Golden Hamburg, and Black Hamburg in the US; Muscat de Hambourg in France; Moscato di Amburgo in Italy; and Muscat...
(also called Muscat Hamburg, Moscato di Amburgo) Used for some Eastern European wine but mainly for table grapes in Italy, Australia and France. A dessert wine made from this grape is produced in California and Cyprus. - Orange Muscat. Used for dessert wines in California and AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Not surprisingly, has something of an orange aroma. - Muscat Crocant. Used for dessert wine of the same name (Muskat Krokan) in SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, where it grows only on Pearl Island (Biserno Ostrvo) on Tisza River. - Moravian Muscat. The most widespread new wine cultivar in Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
All together there are a couple of hundred Muscat varieties recorded, with many overlapping synonyms.
Muscat wines
Table and sparkling wines
Muscat grapes are one of the major varieties grown for table wineTable wine
Table wine is a wine term with two different meanings: a wine style; and a quality level within wine classification.In the United States, table wine primarily designates a wine style - ordinary wine which is neither fortified nor sparkling....
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and is a minor variety in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In Italy, it is widely used in sweeter sparkling wines like Asti
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
. Their 'grapey' quality makes many wines made from Muscat easy to identify. Moscato d'Asti
Moscato d'Asti
Moscato d'Asti is a "Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita" sparkling white wine produced mainly in the province of Asti, north-west Italy, and in smaller nearby regions in the provinces of Alessandria and Cuneo. The wine is sweet and low in alcohol, and often enjoyed with dessert. ...
is a lightly sparkling (frizzante) variety of Muscat, made from the Moscato Bianco (Muscato Canelli) grape of the Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
region of Italy. This region has a DOCG designation, and is also known for the production of Barbera d'Asti
Barbera d'Asti
Barbera d'Asti is an Italian red wine made from the Barbera grape variety. It is produced in the hilly areas of the provinces of Asti and Alexandria...
, Dolcetto d’Asti, and Asti. In Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, it is also used for making a sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
called Alita.
Dessert and fortified wines
Muscat grapes are used to make a variety of sweet dessert wines in various parts of the world. Typically, these are fortified wines, though some sweet late harvest and noble rotNoble rot
Noble rot is the benevolent form of a grey fungus, Botrytis cinerea, affecting wine grapes. Infestation by Botrytis requires moist conditions, and if the weather stays wet, the malevolent form, "grey rot", can destroy crops of grapes...
wines are also made from Muscat grapes. Officially, Muscato is not classified as a dessert wine.
Muscat is widely grown in Portugal and Spain, where the grape and the wines produced from it are known as Moscatel or Muscatel. Moscatels made in these countries are typically sweet and fortified. Among these wines is Moscatel de Setubal a sweet fortified wine
Fortified wine
Fortified wine is wine to which a distilled beverage has been added. Fortified wine is distinguished from spirits made from wine in that spirits are produced by means of distillation, while fortified wine is simply wine that has had a spirit added to it...
from the Setúbal
Setúbal
Setúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants....
Peninsula in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Moscatel de Favaios is a Moscatel from the Douro
Douro
The Douro or Duero is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province across northern-central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Porto...
Region. A Moscatel Madeira wine
Madeira wine
Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. Some wines produced in small quantities in California and Texas are also referred to as "Madeira", or "Madera", although those wines do not conform to the EU PDO regulations...
has also been produced on the island of Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, although Moscatel has become increasingly rare there over the last century.
In Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, sweet fortified Moscatels are produced in a number of regions, notably Malaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
and Jerez, and are sometimes made using the solera
Solera
Solera is a process for aging liquids such as wine, beer, vinegar, and brandy, by fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age gradually increasing as the process continues over many years. A solera is literally the set of barrels or other...
system. A variety of muscat is one of the varietals used in the production of sherry
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
and according to Spanish law, it is one of only three grapes varietals allowed for this purpose.
Muscat is successfully grown in California's east-central San Joaquin Valley, where orange muscat and black muscat varieties form the basis of premium dessert wines.
France also produces a number of sweet fortified vins doux naturels from muscat grapes, such as Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Muscat de Rivesaltes
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC
Muscat de Rivesaltes is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for fortified wines made in the Roussillon wine region of France. They are similar to Rivesaltes AOC wines, except for the grape varieties used...
, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de Lunel, Muscat de Mireval, and Muscat de St-Jean Minervois.
In Australia, sweet fortified muscat wines are produced in the Rutherglen
Rutherglen, Victoria
Rutherglen is a small town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, near the Murray River border with New South Wales. The town was named after the Scottish town of Rutherglen which lies just outside Glasgow...
region, with older wines made according to the solera system.
Brandies and liqueurs
Muscat wine is also the basis for PiscoPisco
Pisco is a colorless or yellowish-to-amber colored grape brandy produced in winemaking regions of Chile and Peru. Pisco was developed by Spanish settlers in the 16th century as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain...
, a brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
-like drink made in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and Metaxa
Metaxa
Metaxa is a Greek distilled spirit invented by Spyros Metaxas in 1888. It is a blend of brandy and wine made from sun-dried Savatiano, Sultana and Black Corinth grape varieties. It is then blended with an aged Muscat wine from the Greek islands of Samos and Lemnos. It is exported to over 60...
, a brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
-like drink made in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
A blend of Muscatel wine and mead is called Muscadore.
Chemistry
Muscat grapes contain a number of compounds that give muscat wines their distinct flavor.Muscat grapes have been found to have high concentrations of antioxidant flavonoids, in quantities as high as many varieties of red grapes. This means that the possible beneficial effects of red wine consumption may also be present in muscat wines.
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.Austria
In Austria Muscat wines ranging from dry to very sweet are produced. The grape is mostly grown in Southern Styria as "Muskateller".Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan Muscat wine is made from the locally grown grape. The most popular brand isXAN Maral Göl Muscat Wine which is the product of the oldest wine factory in Azerbaijan.
Bulgaria
Muscat Ottonel is grown in the Black SeaBlack Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
region and in the Danubian Plain
Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)
The Danubian Plain constitutes the northern part of Bulgaria, situated north of the Balkan Mountains and south of the Danube. Its western border is the Timok River and to the east it borders the Black Sea. The plain has an area of . It is about long and wide.The relief of the Danubian Plain is...
, while Muscatel is a well-known style in the Rose Valley
Rose Valley, Bulgaria
The Rose Valley is a region in Bulgaria located just south of the Balkan Mountains and the eastern part of the lower Sredna Gora chain to the south...
.
Cyprus
Muscat dessert wines are also produced in Cyprus, analogous to those produced in Greece. Also dessert wine from Black Muscat can be found in CyprusCroatia
Croatia has Muscat plantings for dry, semidry and sweet styles. Among the well known varieties most famous are of "Muškat Žuti" Muscat yellow and "muškat ruža porečki" Muscat Rose produced in mid Istra, peninsula on north of Adriatic coast in Croatia.France
Muscat is best known for producingVins Doux Naturels (Natural Sweet Wines) in Frontignan
Frontignan
Frontignan la Peyrade is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.Frontignan is renowned for its AOC wine, the Muscat de Frontignan, a sweet wine made solely from the Muscat grape variety.-Sights:...
, Lunel
Lunel
Lunel is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France. Lunel is located east of Montpellier and southwest of Nîmes .-History:The ancient Roman site of Ambrussum is located nearby. The troubadour Folquet de Lunel was from Lunel....
, Mireval
Mireval
Mireval is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.It is famous for its muscat wine, the , from which François Rabelais wrote about in the beginning of the 16th century.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
, Saint-Jean-de-Minervois
Saint-Jean-de-Minervois
Saint-Jean-de-Minervois is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.When it was created in 1908, this commune's name was Saint-Jean-de-Pardailhan according to the name of Pardailhan since this commune owned the territory before.Its name was changed in 1936 to...
, Rivesaltes
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC
Muscat de Rivesaltes is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for fortified wines made in the Roussillon wine region of France. They are similar to Rivesaltes AOC wines, except for the grape varieties used...
, Beaumes de Venise and Cap Corse
Cap Corse
Cap Corse, a geographical area of Corsica , is a 25-mile long peninsula located at the northern tip of the island. At the base of it is the second largest city in Corsica, Bastia...
. Muscat d'Alsace, which is primarily dry but can also be made in sweeter styles (Vendange tardive
Vendange tardive
Vendange tardive means "late harvest" in French. The phrase refers to a style of dessert wine where the grapes are allowed to hang on the vine until they start to dehydrate. This process, called passerillage, concentrates the sugars in the juice and changes the flavours within it...
and Sélection de Grains Nobles
Sélection de Grains Nobles
Sélection de Grains Nobles is French for "selection of noble berries" and refers to wines made from grapes affected by noble rot. SGN wines are sweet dessert wines with rich, concentrated flavours...
)
Greece
Muscat dessert wines (moschato) are produced on Samos, Rhodes, Patras and Cephalonia. Dry Muscat table wine is produced on LemnosLemnos
Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...
. A number of towns are named Moschaton (Μοσχάτο) after the Greek name for the grapes.
Hungary
In Hungary Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is grown mostly in TokajTokaji
Tokaji is the name of the wines from the region of Tokaj-Hegyalja in Hungary and Slovakia. The name Tokaji is used for labeling wines from this wine district. This region is noted for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region...
, Mátra and Balaton wine regions under the name of Muscat Lunel or Sárgamuskotály (Yellow Muscat) in Hungarian. Sárgamuskotály wines can range from light, dry and refreshing to late harvest sweet or even botrytized dry or sweet wines. Botrytized Sárgamuskotály is often an ingredient in Tokaji sweet and "aszú" wines.
Muscat Ottonel used to be very popular once, but it is on the decline now and rarely shows up as a quality wine.
Italy
Muscat (Moscato) grows throughout Italy in various forms. In dessert form it is either passito or fortified. It is known worldwide as in sparkling wines Asti and Moscato d'AstiMoscato d'Asti
Moscato d'Asti is a "Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita" sparkling white wine produced mainly in the province of Asti, north-west Italy, and in smaller nearby regions in the provinces of Alessandria and Cuneo. The wine is sweet and low in alcohol, and often enjoyed with dessert. ...
.
Lebanon
Moscatel, from Ksara , a late-harvested, fortified wine made from Muscat and Gewurztraminer. The nose is floral with citrus aromas, ripe melon and honey. It goes perfectly with foie gras, Roquefort and puddings.Japan
Muscat of AlexandriaMuscat of Alexandria
Muscat of Alexandria is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. It is considered an "ancient vine", and wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence...
is grown in Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
for juices and sweet white wines.
Portugal
Muscat (Moscatel) makes the much-revered Moscatel de Setubal and Moscatel de Favaios among others.Romania
Romania has Muscat plantings for various dry and sweet styles. Among the most well known varieties of Muscat produced in Romania are the wines from the regions Jidvei, Murfatlar and Dealu Mare.Serbia
Known locally as TamjanikaTamjanika
Tamjanika or Temjanika is a type of grape, a variety of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, grown in Serbia and Macedonia. It is named after tamjan , due to intense scent from ripe grapes, which can be sensed several meters away. Berries are small, green, yellow or pink, almost perfect balls...
, sweet muscat wines have been popular in Serbia since the Middle Ages. They are grown mainly in the Župa
Aleksandrovac
Aleksandrovac is a town and municipality located in the Rasina District of Serbia. In 2002, the population of the town was 6,265, while population of the municipality was 26,534.-Sport:...
region of central Serbia, near Mount Kopaonik
Kopaonik
Kopaonik ; is one of the larger mountain ranges of Serbia. It is located in the central part of Serbia, while a small portion extendeds to North Kosovo. Its highest point, Pančić's Peak, is above sea level....
and also in the Negotin
Negotin
Negotin is a town and municipality in the Bor District of north-eastern Central Serbia. It is situated near the borders between Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. It is the judicial center of the Bor District. The population of the town is 16,716 while municipality has 36,879.-Name:The etymology of the...
region in the Danubian basin.
Spain
Fortified Muscat (Moscatel (Spanish)) is produced in AndalusiaAndalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Aragón
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
and Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, and the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
.
It is also used to produce some dry white wines — sometimes blended with other grape varieties.
South Africa
Muscat is known as Muscadel or Hanepoot (Literally: Cockerel's Foot, reputedly from the shape of the vine's leaves, although there is a theory that it is a corruption of hanekloot which means: Cockerel's Testicle from the shape of the grapes themselves), 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.Ukraine
The Crimea region is home to dessert wines of reverence, with white, pink and black Muscat being given pride of place.United States
Muscat and Muscat hybrids are grown across the United States, with California being a large producer of both fine wines and bulk wines.Tea
Darjeeling teaDarjeeling tea
Darjeeling tea is a black tea from the Darjeeling region in West Bengal, India. When properly brewed, it yields a thin-bodied, light-colored infusion with a floral aroma...
is often said to have a flavour reminiscent of muscatel, although the similarity is purely coincidental as the tea contains no grape products.
Muscat tea, a (non-alcoholic) flavor of iced tea
Iced tea
Iced tea is a form of cold tea, often served in a glass with ice. It may or may not be sweetened. Iced tea is also a popular packaged drink. It can be mixed with flavored syrup, with common flavors including lemon, peach, raspberry, lime, passion fruit, and cherry...
, similar to the better-known lemon tea and peach tea flavors, is available in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In Japan muscat is also a popular flavor for soft drinks and desserts. Products range from a muscat-flavored Calpis
Calpis
is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by , headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo.The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavor, similar to plain or vanilla-flavored yogurt or Yakult...
, to muscat-flavored ice being sold at Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants all over Japan. The color usually associated with Muscat-flavored products in Japan is green.
External links
- Muscats Du Monde - website of an international Muscats competition.