Muscat in France

In France, the Muscat grape has a long and diverse tradition of use, primarily for aromatic white wines, often sweet or fortified, but also dry and sparkling styles.

France cultivates several Muscat varieties, the most common are:

• Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains – the most noble and aromatic
• Muscat of Alexandria – less refined, used in warmer climates
• Muscat Ottonel – used in cooler regions like Alsace

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Vin Doux Naturel (Natural Sweet Wines)

Vin Doux Naturel (VDN) are sweet wines made by mutage (adding grape spirit to stop fermentation and preserve sweetness).

This is where Muscat truly shines in France:

• Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is a sweet fortified wine from southern Rhone.
  It is made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, with notes of peach, orange blossom, and honey.

• Muscat de Rivesaltes is a sweet fortified wine from the Roussilon region.
  It is a blend of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria witha a sun-drenched, tropical style.

• Muscat de Frontignan (Languedoc) – Rich, perfumed wines often with candied fruit and floral tones.

• Muscat de Lunel and Muscat de Mireval are are also natural sweet dessert wines from the Languedoc region, produced exclusively by the Muscat grape.

• Muscat du Cap Corse (Corsica) – More rare, elegant, and Mediterranean in character.

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Dry White Wines

Muscat is used sparingly for dry wines, exept from in Alsace, where Muscat d’Alsace (usually from Muscat Ottonel) can produce delicately aromatic, dry wines with grapey, floral, and herbal aromas.

Muscat d'Alsace is a dry table wine made from Muscat Ottonel. These wines are crisp and dry, with a fruity aroma, and are excellent as aperitifs or with asparagus, a tough food to pair.

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Sparkling Wines

Muscat is sometimes used in regional sparkling wines, though not in Champagne. It appears in local, often semi-sweet or sweet sparkling wines, especially in warmer southern regions.

Clairette de Die is a sparkling wine from the town of Die in the northern Rhone region. It is made from a blend of Muscat Blanc and the Clairette grape, producing a sparkling white wine with a fruity, musky taste.

Moscato in Italy

In Italy, the grape is called Moscato.

It is used to produce dry, sweet, sparkling, and fortified wines.

The primary variety used in Italy is Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains), prized for its intense floral and fruity aromas.

Most famous are the sparkling wines Moscato d'Asti and Asti Spumante for celebrations and aperitifs.

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Moscato d’Asti DOCG (Piedmont)

Style: Lightly sparkling (frizzante), sweet, and low in alcohol (typically around 5.5% ABV).

Profile: Bright and fresh with notes of orange blossom, peach, apricot, and honey.

Use: A favorite for desserts, brunch, or aperitifs. Often enjoyed chilled and unaged.

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Asti Spumante DOCG (Piedmont)

Style: Fully sparkling (spumante), sweeter and slightly higher in alcohol than Moscato d’Asti.

Profile: Still floral and fruity, with a bit more effervescence and richness.

Use: Celebration wine, often served at festive occasions and with desserts like panettone.

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Still Moscato Wines

Produced in smaller amounts across Italy, including regions like Sicily, Puglia, and Lazio.

Often labeled as Moscato Secco (dry Moscato) or Moscato Bianco.

Profile: Aromatic but dry, showcasing the grape’s floral bouquet without residual sugar.

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Passito-Style Moscato Wines

In regions like Pantelleria (Sicily), Moscato di Pantelleria is made using Moscato di Alessandria sun-dried grapes (passito method).

Style: Rich, sweet, and concentrated dessert wines, sometimes fortified.

Profile: Notes of raisins, figs, dried apricots, and exotic spice.

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Moscadello di Montalcino

Moscadello di Montalcino is one of Italy’s best sweet wines.

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Moscato Rosa (Trentino-Alto Adige)

A rare and unique variety, red-skinned Moscato, used for intensely aromatic, sweet red or rosé wines.

Profile: Rose petals, red berries, lychee, spice.

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Zibibbo in Sicily

The name Zibibbo is commonly used in Italy, particularly in Sicily, where it has historical significance.

Zibibbo is often associated with sweet or fortified wines, it is also used to produce dry wines, particularly in Sicily.

Zibibbo Secco can offer a unique and aromatic drinking experience.

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Moscato di Siracusa

Moscato di Siracusa is a sweet passitivo wine from Scicily.

Moscatel in Portugal and Spain

Examples include:

• Moscatel de Alejandra (Spain)
• Moscatel de Setúbal (Portugal)

These wines are rich, sweet, and intensely aromatic.

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Moscatel in Spain

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Sweet Wines

Moscatel is most famous in Spain for producing aromatic sweet wines, often made using sun-dried grapes to concentrate sugars. These wines are known for their floral and fruity character, typically featuring orange blossom, jasmine, peach, and citrus notes.

Moscatel de Alejandría is the most common variety in Spain.

Regions like Málaga, Valencia, and Alicante are renowned for their sweet Moscatel wines.

In Málaga, for example, Moscatel is often vinified into dulce natural (naturally sweet) wines, and in some cases, oxidatively aged for complexity.

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Fortified Wines

In Andalusia, particularly around Málaga and Chipiona (near Jerez), Moscatel is used to make fortified wines, sometimes in a style similar to Sherry, but usually sweeter and more floral than Palomino-based Sherries.

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Dry and Semi-Dry Wines

Though less common, some producers make dry or semi-dry Moscatel wines that still highlight the grape’s intense aromatic profile but with more balance and acidity.

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Sparkling Wines (Espumosos)

Moscatel is also used to produce light, fresh sparkling wines, especially those intended for easy drinking and dessert pairing. These are often made in a frizzante (lightly sparkling) style.

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List of Spanish Moscat Use

Style	Region	Profile
Sweet wines	Málaga, Valencia, Alicante	Floral, fruity, honeyed, sometimes oxidized
Fortified wines	Málaga, Chipiona (Andalusia)	Sweet, high alcohol, sometimes aged
Dry/semi-dry	Various experimental producers	Aromatic, refreshing, balanced
Sparkling wines	Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha	Light, bubbly, often semi-sweet

Muscat of Alexandria in Greece

White wines from Limnos are made from Moschato Aspro and Muscat of Alexandria. It is vinified dry, semi-dry and medium sweet.

PDO Muscat of Limnos dessert wines may be either vin naturellement dour (sun-dried grapes) or vin doux naturel – vin de liqueur (fortified).

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South Africa

Constantia is a South African dessert wine made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains grapes in the district of Constantia in Cape Town.

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Muscat in Australia

Different types of Muscat grapes are grown in Australia. Different wine styles have been developed ranging from crisp dry whites to late harvest sweet wines and the famous fortified Liqueur Muscats.

Fortified Muscats are produced in Rutherglen and Glenrowan in northeast Victoria. The grape is Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains.