Muscat

Muscat is a family of grapes that is widely grown for wine, raisins and table grapes. They range in color from white to almost black. Muscat grapes are grown around the world in Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Australia, and California. One variety of Muscat is one of only three grapes allowed for making sherry. Pisco is a brandy made in Peru from Muscat grapes. Metaxa is a brandy liqueur from Greece which uses Muscat wine. Australia uses muscat grapes to make a fortified wine of the same name. Muscat grapes are also a major variety grown for wine in Chile.

Varieties of muscat grapes:

• Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (also called Muscat Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Frontignan, Moscato Bianco, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat d'Alsace, Muskateller, Muscatel de Grano Menudo, and Moscatel Rosé). This grape is used for the wines: asti spumante, clairette de die, and muscat de beaumes-de-venise
• Moscato Giallo (or Goldmuskateller) and Moscato Rosa (or Rosenmuskateller) are thought to be closely related colored versions of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
• Muscat of Alexandria (also called Moscatel, Moscatel Romano, Moscatel de Málaga, Gordo Blanco, Hanepoot, Lexia, Moscatel Gordo, and Zibibbo) This grape is used for sherry, moscatel or muscatel wines, Muscatel de Valencia, Muscatel Passito and other Muscatel liqueurs and also as a raisin and table grape.
• Muscat Ottonel (also called Moskately) Used for dessert wines in Austria and dry wines in Alsace.
• Muscat Hamburg (also called Black Muscat, Moscato di Amburgo) Used for some Eastern European wine but mainly for table grapes in Italy and Australia
• Orange Muscat. Used for some wines in California

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Muscat is also the capital of Oman.