Muscat of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
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. While today it is mostly cultivated as a table grape or for raisin
production, it is still an important grape in the Australian and South African wine
industry. It is also cultivated very heavily on the island of Samos
, in the North Eastern Aegean
region of Greece
, and reputedly Cleopatra drank muscat wine from there. It is also thought to rival the French Beaume de Venise
in its most refined form. In Italy
wine is made from the grape on the island of Pantelleria
, and in Spain
, the grape is used for wine around Málaga
, Alicante
, Valencia, and the Canary Islands
. The grape originated in North Africa
, and the name is probably derived from its association with Ancient Egyptians who used the grape for wine making.
to create a strong wine that varies in color from gold to dark black. In Australia, the grape is often used in the production of wine similar to cream sherry.
In Portugal
, Vinho Moscatel (Moscatel Wine) is a sweet wine widely produced in the Setúbal Peninsula
region, just south of Lisbon
, as well as in Favaios
, Alijó
and other areas of the Portuguese Douro
, in northern Portugal.
Augibi, Augibi Blanc, Augibi de Muscat, Augibi Muscat, Augihi Muscat, Bowood Muscat, Broccula, Cabas à la Reine, Cabas à le Reine, Charlesworth Tokay, Chasselas Fleur d'Oranger, Chasselas Musqué, Cibeben Muskateller, Cibib, Cibib Muskatani Bijeli, Damascener Weiss Muscat, Damaszkuszi Muskotally, Daroczy Musko, Englesiko, Escholada Superba, Gerosolimitana Bianca, Gordo, Gris de Muscat, Hanepoot, Hbiqui, Isidori, Iskenderiye Misketi, Iskendiriye Misketi, Jubi, Jubi Blanc, Kabridja, Kabrija,
Kalabrija, Malaga, Malaga Blanc, Malakay, Meski, Moscatel, Moscatel Bianco, Moscatel Blanco, Moscatel de Alejandria, Moscatel de Aleyandria, Moscatel de Chipiona, Moscatel de Espana, Moscatel de Grano Gordo, Moscatel de Jesus, Moscatel de Lanzarote, Moscatel de Malaga, Moscatel de Samso, Moscatel de Setubal, Moscatel de Valencia, Moscatel Flamenco, Moscatel Gordo, Moscatel Gordo Blanco, Moscatel Gorron, Moscatel Groso, Moscatel Malaga, Moscatel Real, Moscatel Roma, Moscatel Romano, Moscatel Romano Blanco, Moscatel Ulmancia, Moscatellone, Moscatelon, Moscatelone, Moscato di Alessandria, Moscato di Calabria, Moscato di Pantellaria,
Moscato di Pantelleria, Moscato Gordo, Moscato Romano, Moschato Alexandrias, Moschato Limnou, Muscat, Muscat A Gros Grains, Muscat Bowood, Muscat Caminada, Muscat Candia, Muscat Croquant, Muscat d'Alesandrie, Muscat d'Alexandrie, Muscat d'Alexandrie Blanc, Muscat d'Alexandrie de Raf Raf, Muscat d'Espagne, Muscat de Alexandria, Muscat de Caminada, Muscat de Jerusalem, Muscat de Kelibia, Muscat de Raf-Raf, Muscat de Rivesaltes, Muscat de Roma, Muscat de Rome, Muscat de Sagunto, Muscat de Sale, Muscat Escholata, Muscat Flame, Muscat Gardo, Muscat Gordo Blanco, Muscat Grec, Muscat Llansa, Muscat Primavis, Muscat Romain, Muscat Tynningham, Muscataiu, Muscatdamascener Weiss, Muscatellone di Espagna, Muscato Romano, Muskat Aleksandriiskii, Muskat Etolyata, Muskat Krupni, Muskat Mali, Muskat Rapski, Muskat Veliki, Pais Myuske, Panse Muscade, Panse Muscat, Panse Musque, Panse Musquee, Paradisia, Pasa de Malaga, Pascal Muscat, Passe Muscat, Raisin de Malaga, Raisin du Husaco, Roode Hanepoot, Ryton Muscat, Salamanca, Salamanna, Salamanna Bianca, Salamonica, Seralamanna, Smirnai Szagos, Spanier Weiss, Tamaiioasa de Alexandria, Tokay Musqué, Tottenham Park Muscat, Tynningham Muscat, Uva Aceituna, Vanille Raisin, Vizaca, White Hanepoot, White Muscat Of Alexandria, White Muscat of Lunel, White Romain, Zibeben-Muscateller Weisser, Zibibbo, Zibibbo Blanco, Zibibbo de Pantellaria,
Zibibbu, Zibibbu di Sicilia, Zihibbo, Zihibbo di Marcellinaria, Zihibbo di Milazzo, Zihibbo di Pantellaria, Zihibbo di Termini, Zihibbo di Trapani, Zihibbo Hianco Moscato, and Zihibbu di Sicilia.
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...
grape
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...
that is a member of the Muscat family
Muscat (grape and wine)
The Muscat variety of grapes of the species Vitis vinifera is widely grown for wine, raisins and table grapes. Their color ranges from white to near black. Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Muscat grapes are grown around the world...
of 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....
. It is considered an "ancient vine", and wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence. While today it is mostly cultivated as a table grape or for 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...
production, it is still an important grape in the Australian and South African wine
South African wine
South African wine has a history dating back to 1659, and at one time Constantia was considered one of the greatest wines in the world. Access to international markets has unleashed a burst of new energy and new investment. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with major vineyard and...
industry. It is also cultivated very heavily on the island of Samos
Samos Island
Samos is a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, south of Chios, north of Patmos and the Dodecanese, and off the coast of Asia Minor, from which it is separated by the -wide Mycale Strait. It is also a separate regional unit of the North Aegean region, and the only municipality of the regional...
, in the North Eastern Aegean
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
region of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and reputedly Cleopatra drank muscat wine from there. It is also thought to rival the French Beaume de Venise
Beaumes-de-Venise
Beaumes-de-Venise is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Name:The word "beaumes" comes from the old Provençal word balma meaning "cave" or "grotto"...
in its most refined form. In 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...
wine is made from the grape on the island of Pantelleria
Pantelleria
Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...
, and 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...
, the grape is used for wine around Málaga
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...
, Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Valencia, 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...
. The grape originated in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and the name is probably derived from its association with Ancient Egyptians who used the grape for wine making.
Viticulture
The vine thrives in a hot climate and is particularly sensitive to the cold during its flowering season.Wine characteristics
Wine made from Muscat of Alexandria tends to be sweet with an earthy taste. It is not particularly aromatic. In Málaga the grape is often blended with Pedro XiménezPedro Ximénez
Pedro Ximénez is the name of a white grape grown in certain regions of Spain, and also a varietal wine, an intensely sweet, dark, dessert sherry...
to create a strong wine that varies in color from gold to dark black. In Australia, the grape is often used in the production of wine similar to cream sherry.
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...
, Vinho Moscatel (Moscatel Wine) is a sweet wine widely produced in the Setúbal Peninsula
Setúbal Peninsula
Setúbal Peninsula is a peninsula in Portugal. The Portuguese language name is Península de Setúbal and gives its name to Península de Setúbal Subregion which coves more than only the peninsula....
region, just south of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, as well as in Favaios
Favaios
Favaios is a civil parish of the municipality of Alijó, in northern Portugal. The region is known for its wines, namely, the moscatels like Moscatel de Favaios.-History:...
, Alijó
Alijó
Alijó is a municipality in the Norte Region of Portugal, located in the district of Vila Real. The municipality, comprising 19 parishes, has a total area of 267.6 km² and a population of 13,942 inhabitants .-History:There are several megalithic structures, dolmens and castros in Alijó...
and other areas of the Portuguese 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...
, in northern Portugal.
Synonyms
Muscat of Alexandria is also known under the synonyms Acherfield's Early Muscat, Aggliko, Albillo de Toro, Aleksandrijski Muskat, Alexander Muskat, Alexandriai Muskotally, Alexandrian Frontignan, Alexandriski Muskat, Anglico, Angliko, Apostoliatiko, Argelino,Augibi, Augibi Blanc, Augibi de Muscat, Augibi Muscat, Augihi Muscat, Bowood Muscat, Broccula, Cabas à la Reine, Cabas à le Reine, Charlesworth Tokay, Chasselas Fleur d'Oranger, Chasselas Musqué, Cibeben Muskateller, Cibib, Cibib Muskatani Bijeli, Damascener Weiss Muscat, Damaszkuszi Muskotally, Daroczy Musko, Englesiko, Escholada Superba, Gerosolimitana Bianca, Gordo, Gris de Muscat, Hanepoot, Hbiqui, Isidori, Iskenderiye Misketi, Iskendiriye Misketi, Jubi, Jubi Blanc, Kabridja, Kabrija,
Kalabrija, Malaga, Malaga Blanc, Malakay, Meski, Moscatel, Moscatel Bianco, Moscatel Blanco, Moscatel de Alejandria, Moscatel de Aleyandria, Moscatel de Chipiona, Moscatel de Espana, Moscatel de Grano Gordo, Moscatel de Jesus, Moscatel de Lanzarote, Moscatel de Malaga, Moscatel de Samso, Moscatel de Setubal, Moscatel de Valencia, Moscatel Flamenco, Moscatel Gordo, Moscatel Gordo Blanco, Moscatel Gorron, Moscatel Groso, Moscatel Malaga, Moscatel Real, Moscatel Roma, Moscatel Romano, Moscatel Romano Blanco, Moscatel Ulmancia, Moscatellone, Moscatelon, Moscatelone, Moscato di Alessandria, Moscato di Calabria, Moscato di Pantellaria,
Moscato di Pantelleria, Moscato Gordo, Moscato Romano, Moschato Alexandrias, Moschato Limnou, Muscat, Muscat A Gros Grains, Muscat Bowood, Muscat Caminada, Muscat Candia, Muscat Croquant, Muscat d'Alesandrie, Muscat d'Alexandrie, Muscat d'Alexandrie Blanc, Muscat d'Alexandrie de Raf Raf, Muscat d'Espagne, Muscat de Alexandria, Muscat de Caminada, Muscat de Jerusalem, Muscat de Kelibia, Muscat de Raf-Raf, Muscat de Rivesaltes, Muscat de Roma, Muscat de Rome, Muscat de Sagunto, Muscat de Sale, Muscat Escholata, Muscat Flame, Muscat Gardo, Muscat Gordo Blanco, Muscat Grec, Muscat Llansa, Muscat Primavis, Muscat Romain, Muscat Tynningham, Muscataiu, Muscatdamascener Weiss, Muscatellone di Espagna, Muscato Romano, Muskat Aleksandriiskii, Muskat Etolyata, Muskat Krupni, Muskat Mali, Muskat Rapski, Muskat Veliki, Pais Myuske, Panse Muscade, Panse Muscat, Panse Musque, Panse Musquee, Paradisia, Pasa de Malaga, Pascal Muscat, Passe Muscat, Raisin de Malaga, Raisin du Husaco, Roode Hanepoot, Ryton Muscat, Salamanca, Salamanna, Salamanna Bianca, Salamonica, Seralamanna, Smirnai Szagos, Spanier Weiss, Tamaiioasa de Alexandria, Tokay Musqué, Tottenham Park Muscat, Tynningham Muscat, Uva Aceituna, Vanille Raisin, Vizaca, White Hanepoot, White Muscat Of Alexandria, White Muscat of Lunel, White Romain, Zibeben-Muscateller Weisser, Zibibbo, Zibibbo Blanco, Zibibbo de Pantellaria,
Zibibbu, Zibibbu di Sicilia, Zihibbo, Zihibbo di Marcellinaria, Zihibbo di Milazzo, Zihibbo di Pantellaria, Zihibbo di Termini, Zihibbo di Trapani, Zihibbo Hianco Moscato, and Zihibbu di Sicilia.