Muscat

Muscat, Moscatel, Moscato, Zibibbo. French, Spanish, Italian & Sicilian names for a grape that historically has been famous for one thing; sweet wine! You may recognise some of the most famous names associated with this style; Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Vin de Constance and Rutherglen. But, the name Muscat is actually given to a family of over 200 different grapes (some unrelated) that tend to share highly aromatic characteristics and grape-like flavours (yes, a grape that tastes like grapes!). Many wine drinkers can find these intense, floral aromas overpowering and when you consider that sweet wine has been out of fashion for decades, Muscat's future seemed uncertain.  But in recent years, dry expressions of the grape have become much more common. Some of our favourite natural winemakers have transformed the grape's reputation and championed its versatility through winemaking techniques such as maceration (skin-contact) and blending.