The Muscat family of grapes includes over 200 grape varieties belonging to the Vitis vinifera species that have been used in wine production and as raisin and table grapes around the globe for many centuries. Their colors range from white (such as Muscat Ottonel ), to yellow ( Moscato Giallo ), to pink ( Moscato Rosa del Trentino ) to near black ( Muscat Hamburg ). Muscat grapes and wines almost always have a pronounced floral aroma . 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.
53-624: Among the most notable members of the Muscat family are Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains , which is the primary grape variety used in the production of the Italian sparkling wine Asti (also known as Moscato d'Asti ) made in the Piedmont region. It is also used in the production of many of the French fortified wines known as vin doux naturels . In Australia , this is also the main grape used in
106-503: A different color the next. These strains are more prevalent in Australia , where the grape is also known as Frontignac and Brown Muscat . South Africa's Muskadel strain tends to show the same darker characteristics. Variants where the differing grape colour is stable are typically classified as separate grape varieties Muscat Rouge à Petit Grains for red skin colour and Muscat Rose à Petit Grains for pink skin colour. In Greece ,
159-475: A long history in ancient Egypt and Persia and classical writers such as Columella and Pliny the Elder did describe very "muscat-like" grape varieties such as Anathelicon Moschaton and Apianae that were very sweet and attractive to bees ( Latin apis ), there is no solid historical evidence that these early wine grapes were members of the Muscat family. The first documented mention of grapes called "muscat"
212-590: A long growing season as it tends to bud early and ripen late. It ripens early in Australia for production of low alcohol moscato style wines. Picking can commence in early February. Picking for fortified production can take place in mid-March; this would be regarded as mid-season, not late. Muscat blanc à petits grains is one of the first harvests in France, starting as early as mid August, in Mireval and other areas of
265-680: A more fresh, sweet rose aroma. In France, Muscat of Alexandria is most prominent as a blending component (with Muscat blanc à Petits Grains ) in the VdN wines of Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC in the Roussillon wine region. The grape is the primary Muscat variety in Spain, where it is known as Moscatel , though the majority of the country's plantings are used for table grapes and raisins, rather than for wine production. Likewise, in Chile , and Peru most of
318-548: A natural crossing between Muscat blanc à Petits Grains and the Greek wine grape Axina de Tres Bias . Though as Axina de Tres Bias has also been historically grown in Sardinia and Malta, the precise location and origins of Muscat of Alexandria cannot be determined. Compared to Muscat blanc à Petits Grains , Muscat of Alexandria tends to produce large, moderately loose clusters of large oval-shaped berries that are distinctive from
371-586: Is a town and a suburb in the southwestern part of the Athens agglomeration, Greece . Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Moschato-Tavros , of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Moschato is situated on the Phaleron Bay coast, east of the mouth of the river Cephissus . The municipal unit has an area of 2.325 km . It is 6 km southwest of Athens city centre and 3 km east of Piraeus . The southern end of
424-632: Is also grown in Malta and Sardinia . Muscat blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria, themselves, have crossed and have produced at least 14 different grape varieties, 5 of which are mostly cultivated in South America and 9 still found in Italy though none are of major use in wine production. More notable and widely planted offspring have come from Muscat blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria crossing with other grape varieties, such as
477-503: Is another Muscat variety commonly used in the production of French vin doux naturel , but it is also found in Spain , where it is used to make many of the fortified Spanish Moscatels. Elsewhere it is used to make off-dry to sweet white wines, often labeled as Moscato in Australia, California and South Africa . In Alsace and parts of Central Europe, Muscat Ottonel is used to produce usually dry and highly perfumed wines. Theories about
530-825: Is known by many names worldwide, including Muscat Blanc (white Muscat) in France and the United States ), Muscat Canelli in the United States, Moscato Bianco (white Moscato) in Italy , Muscat Frontignan in South Africa , Moschato in Greece , Brown Muscat in Australia , Muskateller in Germany and Austria , Muscat de Grano Menudo in Spain , and Muscat de Frontignan and Muscat Lunel in France. While
583-529: Is known for its Carnival celebrations held every year approximately two weeks before Clean Monday (Kathara Deytera). Festivities for all ages are held throughout the town and more specific at the Tent (Tenta) that the municipal puts up at the Korai Str. square. Delegations from many cities across Greece as well as foreign communities take part in this two week festivity. Teenagers have the opportunity to take part in
SECTION 10
#1732779647195636-448: Is known under a variety of local names such as Moscato bianco, Muscat blanc, Muscat Canelli, Muscat de Frontignan , Muscat de Lunel, Muscat d'Alsace, Muskateller, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Moscatel rosé and Sárgamuskotály . While technically a white grape, there are strains of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains vines that produce berries that are pink or reddish brown. The same vine could potentially produce berries of one color one year and
689-469: Is more widely planted in South Africa, producers around Constantia are trying to reclaim some of the region's viticultural acclaim by replanting more Muscat blanc à Petits Grains and making wines in the style of the original Constantia. While the grape's name harkens to the city of Alexandria and suggest an ancient Egyptian origin, DNA analysis has shown that Muscat of Alexandria is the result of
742-686: Is often confused with the distinct and separate grape varieties Muscat of Alexandria (aka Zibibbo in Sicily; aka Hanepoot in South Africa) and Muscat Ottonel, most common in Austria and Alsace but originally bred in Loire Valley in 1852. Wines mentioning just "Muscat" or "Moscato" on the label often come from a blend of different varieties in the Muscat family. Moschato Moschato ( Greek : Μοσχάτο , romanized : Moskháto )
795-474: Is served by Athens Metro Line 1 , which connects it with Piraeus and central Athens. Moschato is also served by the Athens Tram network, and by the bus routes 914, 860, 229, 217, 101, B1, 500, 130, 049, 040, 232, 218, C1, 420 and A1. The local fair is held on 6 August every year, festivities starting from the 5th, when the cathedral of Aghia Sotira (Our Christ Saviour) has its religious holiday. Moschato
848-493: Is still more plantings of Muscat of Alexandria than any other Muscat variety, with most of these grapes going into anonymous jug wines from the Central Valley . As in many other places in the world, the grape had a long history of use in the United States as a raisin variety, though in the 1920s, plantings of Muscat of Alexandria began to decline as producers turned to more popular seedless grape varieties. Even though
901-536: Is the primary grape in the Rhône wine Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and a blending grape with Clairette blanc in the recherché sparkling wine Clairette de Die (brand label Tradition ). In Alsace , it is known for the highly aromatic and dry wines that it produces. In the Hérault region it is the primary grape for Muscat de Mireval . In Spain , the grape is primarily called Moscatel de Grano Menudo , and it
954-493: Is the second most planted Muscat for wine. It is found across Spain, with the majority of the plantings in Castilla-La Mancha . Spain grew 21,902 hectares (54,121 acres) of Moscatel de Grano Menudo in 2015. Its viticultural characteristics makes it prone to producing low yields and a susceptibility to mildew and the grape berry moth . It also tends to fall victim to leaf roll , odium and grey rot and requires
1007-588: Is used to produce a Vin Doux Naturel . The grape is found throughout Greece however, with Spina in Crete being a notable mention, specialising on dry wines. In Italy , the grape is the most widely planted member of the Muscat family and is most commonly known as Moscato Bianco . It is the oldest known variety grown in Piedmont and is the primary component of the Asti and Moscato d'Asti wines, as well as for
1060-738: The A1 motorway (Athens–Thessaloniki–Evzonoi) is in Moschato. Other important roads are Poseidonos Avenue along the coast and Peiraios Street in the north. The main squares of Moschato are Metamorfoseos Sotiris Square on Makrygianni Avenue, with the eponymous church, and Iroon Polytechneiou Square with the City Hall. Moschato which is located in the Athens Riviera , has a hot semi-arid climate . It has mild winters and hot summers, with particularly warm summer nights. The Moschato metro station
1113-667: The Apiane vines planted by the Romans (so named because of the fondness that insects, such as bees (Latin apis ), have for devouring the flesh of the grapes). It was probably first introduced to France by the Greeks through their trading port at Marseille and later spread to the Narbonne region by Romans in their conquest of Gaul . It was a chief export of Frontignan by the time of Charlemagne and plantings were recorded in Germany by
SECTION 20
#17327796471951166-514: The Argentine wine grapes of Cereza , Torrontés Riojano and Torrontés Sanjuanino , stemming from a cross of Muscat of Alexandria with " Listán negro " (also known as the " Mission grape ") Muscat of Alexandria has also been crossed with the German / Italian wine grape Trollinger (also known as " Schiava Grossa ") to produce Muscat of Hamburg and Malvasia del Lazio , and with
1219-681: The Czech Republic , Romania and many former republic of the Soviet Union , such as Russia , Kazakhstan , Moldova , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Ukraine . It is also the primary Muscat variety grown in the French region of Alsace , where it is used to produce both dry and off-dry styles. In Austria, it is also the most widely planted Muscat variety, where it is used to produce late-harvest wines around Lake Neusiedl . While each individual Muscat variety has its own set of synonyms,
1272-584: The Earl de Grey . Snow described the grape as a seedling that he created from crossing the Black Hamburg grape (an old synonym of Schiava Grossa ) with the White Muscat of Alexandria. In 2003, DNA analysis confirmed that Muscat of Hamburg was, indeed, a crossing of Muscat of Alexandria and Schiava Grossa, which makes the grape a full sibling to the central Italian grape Malvasia del Lazio which has
1325-625: The Rutherglen wine region in Australia, to dry wines in the Wachau wine of Austria and Südsteiermark . Nearly all the most notable sweet Muscats of Greece, particularly those from the island of Samos and the city of Patras on the Peloponnese are made from Muscat blanc à Petits Grains . In the history of South African wine , the famous dessert wine of Constantia was made from this variety of Muscat and while today Muscat of Alexandria
1378-679: The " petits grains " in the grape's name accurately describes the small, round berries of the vine, some wine experts, such as Oz Clarke , believe that the term " Muscat blanc " is misleading, since the grapevine is notorious for its frequent color mutations siring clusters of berries in nearly every shade possible though most commonly the grape berries are a deep yellow after veraison . In some vineyards, vines of Muscat blanc à Petits Grains are known to produce clusters of berries of different colors that change every vintage . The precise origins of Muscat blanc à Petits Grains are not known, though Greece and Italy can both make compelling cases due to
1431-514: The 12th century. It became a popular planting in Alsace by the 16th century. It was introduced to South Africa in the 18th century and became the mainstay of the famous Vin de Constance . It is believed that the grapes were sourced in Frontignan. Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is known under a large number of synonyms, the more popular of which include Muscat Canelli, various combinations with
1484-561: The Italian wine grapes Catarratto bianco and Bombino bianco to produce the Marsala wine grape Grillo and Moscatello Selvatico , respectively. Muscat Ottonel is the result of a crossing between one Muscat variety, " Muscat d'Eisenstadt " (also known as " Muscat de Saumur "), with the Swiss wine grape Chasselas Muscat blanc à Petits Grains has been identified as one of
1537-500: The Moscatel in both countries is used to produce the distilled drink " pisco ". In South Africa, Muscat of Alexandria is known as " Hanepoot " and was the fourth-most widely planted white wine grape variety in the country until the early 2000s. While some of the plantings were used for wine production, particularly for fortified wine, many plantings were used for the production of grape concentrate and raisins. In California , there
1590-526: The Muscat family are often erroneously associated with Muscat grapes (often by naming and synonyms) due to their aromatic character. These include the German wine grape Morio Muskat which, despite its name, is not related to the Muscat family and is, instead, a crossing of Silvaner x Pinot blanc . Likewise, the highly aromatic clonal mutation of several wine grape varieties such as Sauvignon blanc , Chasselas and Chardonnay are often suffixed with Musqué which can add confusion to their relationship with
1643-536: The Muscat family. Additionally, the Bordeaux wine grape Muscadelle that is used for both sweet and dry wines is often mistaken for a Muscat variety due to its aromatic qualities. While made from a more aromatically neutral grape, Melon de Bourgogne grape, the Loire wine Muscadet is sometimes mistakenly believed to be made from a member of the Muscat family. Lastly, the Muscat grape can be confused (in name only;
Muscat (grape) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1696-464: The aromatized and fortified vermouths . It is also commonly used for fortified dessert wines as well as the semi-sparkling Frizzante . In France , the grape is used as a blending grape with Grenache blanc and Muscat of Alexandria in vins doux naturels wines from the Frontignan area such as Banyuls , Côtes d'Agly , Grand Roussillon , Rivesaltes and St-Jean de Minervois . It
1749-598: The exact origins of the Muscat family cannot be pinpointed, theories as to the origin of the name "Muscat" are numerous. The most commonly cited is that it is derived from the Persian word muchk . Similar etymology follows the Greek moskos , Latin muscus and French musc . In Italy, the Italian word mosca for fly could also be one possibility with the sweet aroma and high sugar levels of Muscat grapes attracting insects such as fruit flies . Other theories suggest that
1802-809: The general prefix of "Muscat" has its own unique translation around the globe. In Greece, the grapes are usually known as " Moschato " or " Moschoudia ", while in Italy, they are known as " Moscato " or " Moscatello ". On the Iberian peninsula, Portuguese and Spanish Muscat grapes are often prefixed as " Moscatel ", while in Germany, the grapes are usually known as " Muskat " or " Muskateller ". The family of Muscat varieties are known as " Misket " in Bulgaria and Turkey, " Muškat " in Croatia and " Muskotály " in Hungary. In
1855-681: The grape family originated in the West Asian country of Oman and was named after the city of Muscat located on the coast of the Gulf of Oman . Another city that is sometimes suggested as a potential birthplace/namesake is the Greek city of Moschato , located southwest of Athens in Attica , with Moschato being a common synonym in Greece for Muscat varieties. Of the more than 200 grape varieties sharing "Muscat" (or one of its synonyms) in their name,
1908-492: The grape is most important on the island of Samos and near Patras in the Peloponnese. On Samos , it produces a Vin Doux Naturel , aromatic dry white wines and a Liastos or straw wine . The high quality wines come from vineyards between 500 and 1000 metres above sea level. Samos now reinvents itself as a winemaking region, with emerging independent producers focusing more on dry, or even sparkling styles. Near Patras it
1961-460: The grapes themselves are quite different) with Vitis rotundifolia , which is commonly known as a " muscadine " grape. The "Muscat family" is highly populous, with more than 200 distinct members. However, among these many different grapes only a handful of Muscat varieties are widely used in wine production. These include Muscat blanc à Petits Grains , Muscat of Alexandria , Muscat of Hamburg and Muscat Ottonel . Muscat blanc à Petits Grains
2014-439: The major Muscat varieties, Muscat Ottonel has the most pale skin color, and tends to produce the most neutral wines and is also the grape variety that ripens the earliest. While varieties such as Muscat of Alexandria tend to thrive in very warm Mediterranean climates , Muscat of Ottonel has shown an affinity for ripening in cooler continental climates , and has found a home in many Central European nations, such as Bulgaria ,
2067-529: The majority are not closely related to each other. The exception are the members of the Muscat blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria families. In the early 21st century, DNA analysis showed that Muscat of Alexandria was, itself, a natural crossing of Muscat blanc à Petits Grains and a black-skinned table grape variety from the Greek islands known as Axina de Tres Bias . Rarely seen outside of Greece, Axina de Tres Bias (also known as " Heftakilo ")
2120-611: The mediterranean basin, in hot dry years like 2009. The grapes used to produce the fruity sec are picked about seven to ten days earlier than the grapes used to produce the Vin Doux Naturel. Vendange tardive (late harvest) of the grapes is also made to exploit the high sugar and flavour concentrations. Ampelographers have identified the grape with the Anathelicon moschaton grape used by the Ancient Greeks and
2173-425: The much smaller, round berries of Muscat blanc à Petits Grains . Like most Muscat varieties, Muscat of Alexandria is notable for being a desirable raisin and table grape. This is due in part to the grape's high tolerance of heat and drought conditions. While it is used in wine production (most notably on the island of Pantelleria between Sicily and Tunisia , where it makes a passito style dessert wine under
Muscat (grape) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2226-406: The name of "Zibibbo"), the grape lags far behind the reputation of Muscat blanc à Petits Grains . This is partly because Muscat of Alexandria is very vigorous and prone to produce high yields that can be easily overcropped as well as a more assertive aroma profile due to a higher concentration of the monoterpene geraniol , which produces a geranium scent, and lower concentration of nerol with
2279-413: The northern African wine regions of Tunisia, the grapes are often known as " Meski ". Muscat Blanc %C3%A0 Petits Grains Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains ( French pronunciation: [myska blɑ̃ a pəti ɡʁɛ̃] ) is a white wine grape of Greek origin that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera . Its name comes from its characteristic small berry size and tight clusters. It
2332-474: The origins of Muscat grapes date ancestors of the varieties back to the ancient Egyptians and Persians of early antiquity ( c. 3000 –1000 BC) while some ampelographers , such as Pierre Galet , believe that the family of Muscat varieties were propagated during the period of classical antiquity ( c. 800 BC to 600 AD) by the Greeks and Romans . However, while domestic wine production had
2385-543: The parent grapes of several varieties, though with which crossing partner is currently unknown. These include the Italian wine grapes Aleatico , Moscato Giallo (Yellow Moscato), Moscato rosa del Trentino (Pink Moscato of Trentino) and Moscato di Scanzo . DNA analysis was able to identify the Tuscan wine grape Mammolo as the second parent variety that crossed with Muscat blanc à Petits Grains to produce Muscat rouge de Madère (Red Muscat of Madère). Despite
2438-507: The production of Liqueur Muscat , from the Victorian wine region of Rutherglen . Young, unaged and unfortified examples of Muscat blanc tend to exhibit the characteristic Muscat "grapey" aroma as well as citrus, rose and peach notes. Fortified and aged examples (particularly those that have been barrel aged) tend to be very dark in color due to oxidation with aroma notes of coffee, fruit cake, raisins and toffee. Muscat of Alexandria
2491-575: The proliferation of clones, mutations and offspring. Today, the grape is found throughout the wine-producing world, making a wide range of wine, from light, sweet sparkling and semi-sparkling Asti and Moscato d'Asti wine in the Piedmont wine region of Italy and Clairette de Die region of France, fortified vin doux naturels (VdN) in southern France in AOC regions such as Muscat de Beaume de Venise , Muscat de Saint-Jean de Minervois and Muscat de Frontignan , fortified Liqueur Muscat in
2544-466: The region to produce wine grapes that are better adapted to the climate of various Chinese wine regions. Like Muscat of Hamburg, Muscat Ottonel is a relatively recent addition to the Muscat family, being bred in the Loire Valley wine region of France in the 1850s. The grape is a cross of the Swiss wine grape Chasselas and Muscat d'Eisenstadt (also known as Muscat de Saumur ). Of all of
2597-558: The same parentage. While Muscat of Hamburg is used mostly as a table grape throughout the world, there are two notable exceptions. The first is in California, where nearly all of the 102 hectares (250 acres) of Black Muscat in cultivation in 2009 were destined for wine production, primarily to produce dessert wines. The other exception is in China , where Muscat of Hamburg is often crossed with Vitis amurensis species that are native to
2650-862: The vast diversity in the Muscat family, one common trait that can be seen in most all Muscat members is the characteristic floral, " grapey " aroma note that is caused by the high concentration of monoterpenes in the grapes. More than 40 different monoterpenes have been discovered in Muscat grapes (as well as in other aromatic varieties like Riesling and Gewürztraminer ); these include citronellol , geraniol , linalool and nerol . This characteristic "musk" aroma can be best observed in light bodied , low alcohol wines such as Moscato Asti which have not had their bouquet heavily influenced by other winemaking techniques like oak aging , autolysis with yeast , malolactic fermentation or fortification . However, this common "musky" (French: musqué ) trait has caused some confusion as varieties that are wholly unrelated to
2703-442: The vast majority of the members of the Muscat family are dark skinned grapes, most of the major varieties used in wine production are white or "pale skinned", with the one significant exception of Muscat of Hamburg , which is also known as Black Muscat . This dark-skinned grape is believed to have originated in the Victorian greenhouses of England, where it was first described in 1858 as being propagated by Seward Snow, gardener to
SECTION 50
#17327796471952756-620: The word Frontignan. In Greece it's simply known as White Muscat (or Aspro Moschato). In Bulgaria it is known as Tamyanka, in Macedonia as Temjanika and in Serbia as Tamjanika. In Austria (and Germany) it is known as Gelber Muskateller. In Spain it is called Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Moscatel Castellano, Moscatel Commun, Moscatel de Frontignan, Moscatel de Grano Pequeño, Moscatel Fino, Moscatel Morisco, and Moscatell Gra Menut in Catalan. This grape
2809-475: Was in the works of the English Franciscan scholar Bartholomeus Anglicus who wrote of wine made from Muscat grapes in his work De proprietatibus rerum written between 1230 and 1240 while Anglicus was studying in what is now modern Saxony in Germany. Anglicus' Latin work was translated into French in 1372 with the wine being described by Anglicus as "vin extrait de raisins muscats" . Because
#194805