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To kick off 2020, we have the original wine grape, the one from which so many were derived: MUSCAT! In the show we discuss the three main types of Muscat and the wines and regions that you need to seek out to get a taste of this ancient, delicious, complex grape.\\xa0

As M.C. Ice requests in the middle of the show...here are the notes!\\xa0

What is Muscat? Overview

• A grape from which derives a complicated family of grapes that includes over 200 varieties of all colors
• It was most likely a Greek grape, brought to the south of France and Sicily by the Phoenicians
• It\'s known for its floral perfume and grapey flavor. The grape is spicy with orange notes, and has relatively low acidity
• Styles range from dry to late harvest to fortified to sparkling
• Berries are gold, pink, or black and the variation within vines, mean flavors can vary

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The main types of Muscat:

1. Muscat\\xa0Blanc \\xe0 Petits\\xa0Grains is the oldest grape

• Needs a long growing season, disease prone, doesn\\u2019t like humidity
• The most refined, classic Muscat, it is small berried, with a delicate but layered aroma
• Also known as: Moscato Bianco, came to Italy in the 1300s
• Common grapes derived from\\xa0Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains:\\xa0Moscato Giallo,\\xa0Aleatico (red),\\xa0Mammolo (red)

2. \\xa0Muscat of Alexandria

• Natural cross of Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains and Axina de Tres Bias, old black table grape grown on Sardegna, Malta, Greek Islands
• Not from Alexandria in Egypt!\\xa0
• Mid budding, late ripening, likes heat, big bunches, big berries, great for heat. Susceptible to powdery mildew, bunch rot, bugs, good with drought
• Less refined than Muscat \\xe0 Petits Grains: sweet but not complex, less subtle \\u2013 more geranium notes. Makes sticky sweet wines, rose- or orange-like or like geranium and lily of the valley
• Also known as Zibbibo in Sicily.\\xa0
• Related grapes: \\xa0Catarratto Bianco (Etna),\\xa0Grillo (Sicily),\\xa0Bombino Bianco (Sicily, Southern Italy),\\xa0Schiava Grossa,\\xa0Malvasia del Lazio,\\xa0Cereza (Argentina),\\xa0Torront\\xe9s (both clones)

3. Muscat Ottonel:\\xa0

• Bred in Loire in 1852, earliest ripener, planted in Alsace often \\xa0paler, with less aroma than the other varieties -- which can produce a softer wine

4. Muscat of Hamburg

• Black, table grape, low quality in Eastern Europe

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Muscat in the Vineyard:\\xa0

• Hard to grow: Crops erratically, low acidity, can be a tough blender
• Pink, black, red mutations exist around the world
• Early budding, mid ripening, susceptible to powdery mildew, botrytis, mites, small berries
• Climate: Prefers warm\\xa0Mediterranean climates \\u2013 south of France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Australia
• Soils: Different types will yield different flavors. Limestone or calcareous rock, along with sand make lighter, fresher versions. \\xa0Clays, granites, can yield richer versions.\\xa0
• If the grape is overcropped it loses acidity and aroma and is a boring mess.\\xa0

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Muscat by Place:\\xa0

• 18,829 acres in France/7620 ha
• Almost all Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains
• Rh\\xf4ne: Muscat de Beaumes de Venise (fortified)
• Roussillon & Languedoc: Vins doux Naturels of Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains in Frontignan, Lunel, Mireval, St. Jean de Minervois
  • Rivesaltes:\\xa0Vin doux Naturel of Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains blended with Muscat d\'Alexandria in Rivesaltes
  • Clairette de Die Sparkling of Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains
• Corsica: fortified wines
• Alsace: Muscat Ottonel and Muscat \\xe0 Petits Grains. Wines are floral, fresh, grapey, and herbal with spice. Dry.\\xa0

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Italy\\xa0

• 32,816 acres/13280 ha \\u2013 Mostly Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains
• Piemonte: sweet, Asti Spumante (sparkling), Moscato d\\u2019Asti (semi sparkling, sweet, good dessert or cheese wine)
• Trentino Alto Adige: Use\\xa0Rosenmuskateller: variation of the Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains -- rose aroma, still wine,\\xa0Moscato Giallo/Goldmuskateller: orange scented dry or sweet wines
• Valle d\\u2019Aosta: Passito style (grapes dried on mats in the sun, raisined and then pressed)
• Montalcino:\\xa0\\xa0DOC for dry, sparkling, sweet, late-harvest wines of Muscat
• Sicily:\\xa0Zibbibo/Muscat of Alexandria for dry wines,\\xa0Moscato di Pantelleria \\u2013 passito style from a small historic island.\\xa0

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Spain\\xa0

• Grown all over Spain as Moscatel \\u2013Moscatel d\\u2019Alejandria
• M\\xe1laga: sweet speciality of the south
• Jerez/Sherry: \\xa0Moscatel used for color and sweetness, can be made alone as a sweet, passito style wine

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Portugal

• Small amount used in white Port and other fortified wines
• Set\\xfabal makes a fortified wine from it, tasty dry wines\\xa0

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Australia

• Rutherglen and Glenrowan in northeastern Victoria
• Rutherglen Muscat: Four tier quality system -- basic, classic, grand, rare.\\xa0Like figs, coffee, blackberry, chocolate, delicious, with acidity

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South Africa

• Vin de Constance from Muscat Blanc \\xe0\\xa0Petits Grains: Late harvest
  • Probably the descendents of the famed vines of \\xa0colonial days in the 1600s\\xa0
• Worcester, Olifants River: Muscat of Alexandria/ Hanepoot for bulk, used for dry, sweet, fortified, table grapes

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US:\\xa0Central Valley for bulk white. Some Orange Muscat which is a relative of Muscat Blanc \\xe0 Petits Grains

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