Muscat: The World’s Oldest Grape Family — Complete Variety Guide

Muscat is one of the world’s oldest grape families, cultivated since antiquity around the Mediterranean basin.

I. A Millenary History

• Muscat is probably the oldest grape variety still cultivated, mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman texts.
• Spread by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and then Romans, it adapted across the entire Mediterranean region.
• Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is considered the original and noblest form of the family.

II. A Family of Many Faces

• Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains: the highest quality, producing fragrant dry wines (Alsace), Vin Doux Naturel (Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Muscat de Rivesaltes), and sparkling wines (Clairette de Die, Moscato d’Asti).
• Muscat of Alexandria: larger berries, less aromatic, used for sweet wines, table grapes, and raisins.
• Muscat Ottonel: a hardier mutation, primarily grown in Alsace and Central Europe.

III. Aromatic Profile

• Muscat is unique among grape varieties: it is the only one whose wine genuinely smells of fresh grapes, an immediately recognizable varietal character.
• Alongside this ripe grape character are intense floral notes of rose, orange blossom, jasmine, plus nuances of apricot, honey, and exotic fruits.
• Its stylistic range is exceptionally broad: floral dry wines, Vin Doux Naturel, aromatic sparkling (Moscato d’Asti), and fortified wines (Australian Rutherglen Muscat).