Muscat, Moscato

Moscato (Muscat) grapes are grown all around the world in many varieties, among which, we can find:

• Moravian Muscat: cultivated in Czech Republic;
• Orange Muscat: with notes of an orange aroma & used as a dessert wine in Australia & California;
• Black Muscat: also called Muscat Hamburg;
• Muscat Crocant (Muskat Krokan): used as a dessert wine in Serbia;
• Muscat of Alexandria: also called Moscatel or Zibibbo, it is used for Muscatel Passito and other Muscatel liqueurs and also as a raisin and table grape;
• White Moscato (Moscato Bianco, Muscat Blanc): We can include, in this group, the Moscato Canelli or the Muscat d’Alsace. This variety is used for wines.
• Rose, & Gold Moscato (Moscato Rosa & Moscato Giallo): also called Goldmuskateller or Rosenmuskateller, are the closest colored version of White Moscato;
• Muscat Ottonel: also called Moskately. It’s used for both dessert & dry wines;

In Italy

The most famous Italian regions to make Moscato are:

• Moscato D'Asti DOCG or just Asti Docg in Piedmont
• Oltrepo Pavese DOC in Lombardy
• Colli Euganei DOCG in Veneto
• Moscato di Pantelleria DOC or in general  Sicilia IGT
• Puglia IGT

Usually in Italy Moscato is a sweet dessert white wine but it can be also dry, red and rosè.
All these varieties can be used to make:

• liqueurs & Brandy such as Metaxa (a drink similar to brandy, made in Greece) & Pisco (a brandy-like drink made in South America);
• Table & Sparkling wines: Table wines in Chile, California. In Italy, the Moscato Bianco is mainly used to produce Sweet & Aromatic Sparkling wines: such as Moscato d’Asti, for instance;
•     Dessert & Fortified Wines: especially in Australia, France (vins doux naturels), Spain & Portugal, where the sweet & fortified winec obtained from Muscat grapes are called Muscatel or Moscatel.

In Spain, these sweet fortified Muscatels are made according to the Solera system & many varietals are used in the production of Sherry. In Portugal we can find the Moscatel de Favaios & the Moscal de Setubal.