| There are six main varieties of Muscat wine which | | | | the grapes do not adequately describe their color as |
| comes from the oldest variety of grapes in the | | | | the Muscat Blanc grapes are not always white. Dry, |
| world, of which there are over 200 derivatives. The | | | | light, heavy, and sweet wines result depending on |
| colors of the grapes range from white to almost | | | | the type of grape and the wine making process |
| black and all them have a very sweet aroma. This is | | | | used. |
| one of the most commonly grown grapes in the | | | | You will find the Muscat grapes growing mainly in |
| world with wineries in many different countries | | | | areas with a temperate climate, such as California, |
| producing wine from such vines. | | | | Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Greece. They are |
| The varieties of Muscat wine are: | | | | harvested very late in the growing season, which |
| • Muscat Blanc á Petit Grains. This has | | | | gives them a very sweet taste. |
| several different names depending on the country in | | | | Table wines produced in Chile come from Muscat [ |
| which it is produced. It has the most sparkling flavors. | | | | grapes and to a lesser degree in California and Italy. |
| You may recognize it in the name Spumante. | | | | The Muscat Ottonel is the grape of choice in the |
| • Moscato Giallo. This wine variety is a colored | | | | wineries of the Finger Lake wine district of New York |
| version of the Muscat Blanc á Petit Grains. It | | | | state. In Italy, it is mainly used to produce sparkling |
| also goes by names such as Goldmuskateller and | | | | wines, such as Asti Spumante. In the production |
| Moscato Rosa. | | | | process for this wine, the grapes are stored in cold |
| • Muscat Hamburg. This is the name of the | | | | tanks after they are crushed. |
| grape grown in Italy and Australia and is used to | | | | The juice and the crushed grapes are warmed and |
| make red wines like Malbec that are consumed in the | | | | allowed to ferment as they are needed. Then the |
| countries of Eastern Europe. | | | | product is sealed in large tanks that help to trap the |
| • Muscat of Alexandria. This variety of the | | | | carbon dioxide in the wine. Careful attention is paid to |
| grape is grown to produce liqueurs and sherry. The | | | | the fermentation process so that it is stopped once |
| grapes have a very low acidity level and are high in | | | | the wine achieves the right levels of sugar and |
| sugar, which results in a lower quality of wine. | | | | alcohol. At this time it is chilled, bottled and allowed to |
| • Muscat Ottonel. This grape thrives in cooler | | | | age in the bottle. |
| climates and is used mainly in the production of | | | | The inexpensive bulk Muscat wines in the United |
| dessert wines. | | | | States come from Orange Muscat and Black Muscat |
| • Orange Muscat. This Muscat wine has a | | | | grapes grown by only one winery in Stanislaus |
| distinctive flavor of oranges. It is mainly used in | | | | County in California. Napa Valley wineries are known |
| California wineries for producing dessert wines. | | | | for the Muscat de Beaulieu, which is a fortified wine. |
| Due to the many different varieties of the Muscat | | | | This wine is also used as a blend in making |
| grapes, the tastes, aromas, and color of the wine | | | | Conundrum wine and in the ice wine called Vin de |
| vary from one region to another. Even the names of | | | | Glaciere. |