The white grape variety originates from the Mediterranean region, probably Greece or Italy. Around 200 synonyms testify to the vine's great age and worldwide distribution. The most important ones, grouped alphabetically by country, are Muscat de Berkain, Muscat de Fandouk, Muscat El Adda (Algeria); Moscatel Bianco, Moscatel Blanco, Moscatel de Alejandría,(Argentina); Gordo, Lexia, Muscat Gordo Blanco, Muscat of Alexandria (Australia); Moscatel de Alejandría (Chile); Cibeben Muscat, Muscat Damascene, White Spanish, White Cibeben Muscat, Zibeben Muscat (Germany); Acherfield's Early Muscat, Muscat Bowood (England); Augibi Blanc, Jubi Blanc, Muscat à Gros Grains, Muscat Croquant, Muscat d'Alexandrie Blanc, Muscat de Jerusalem, Muscat de Rome, Muscat d'Espagne, Muscat Grec, Muscat Romain (France), Angliko, Apostoliatiko, Moschato Alexandrias, Moschato Limnou (Greece); Gerosolimitana Bianca, Gerusalemme, Gordo Zibibo, Gorosolimitana Bianca, Isidori, Moscatel d'Alessandria, Moscatel de Jesus, Moscatel Romano, Moscatellone, Moscato di Pantelleria, Moscato Francese, Moscato Gordo, Paradisia, Seralamanna, Seralamanna Lunga, Seralamanna Toscana, Uva di Pantelleria, Zibibbo, Zibibbo de Pantellaria, Zibibo (Italy); Cibib, Cibib Muskatani Bijeli (Croatia); Moscatel de Setúbal, Moscatel Graúdo (Portugal), Tamîioasa de Alexandria (Romania); Aleksandrijski Muskat (Russia); Gordo, Moscatel Blanco, Moscatel de Alejandría, Moscatel de Málaga, Moscatel de Chipiona, Moscatel de Grano Gordo, Moscatel de Malaga, Moscatel Flamenco, Moscatel Gordo, Moscatel Gordo Blanco, Moscatel Gordo Morado, Salamanca, Zibibbo Blanco (Spain); Hanepoot, Roode Hanepoot, White Muscat of Alexandria, White Hanepoot (South Africa); Meski, Albillo di Toro, Argelino, Muscat de Raf-Raf (Tunisia), Iskendiriye Misketi (Turkey); Alexandriai Muskotály, Daroczy Musko (Hungary); Malaga (Cyprus).
Descent & Progeny
Despite morphological similarity, it should not be confused with the varieties Moscato di Terracina or Muscat d'Hamburg (with confusing synonym Black Muscat of Alexandria). According to DNA analyses carried out most recently in 2018, the variety originates from a presumably natural cross between Axina de Tres Bias aka Heftakilo (red) x Muscat Blanc (white). Colour mutations are Muscat d'Alexandrie Red (Red Hanepoot in South Africa and Flame Muscat in California) and Black Muscat of Alexandria (known in England since the 19th century). The Muscat d'Alexandrie variety has passed on its genetic traces worldwide as a parent in numerous natural crosses and as a partner in new crosses:
Origin
This is a very old variety that is widely grown, especially in many Mediterranean countries, but also overseas in considerable quantities. However, the hypothesis that the name refers to the city of Alexandria and thus to an origin in Egypt is unlikely. The claim that the variety was used to press Cleopatra's favourite wine is no more than a gag. According to another hypothesis, the Phoenicians brought it to southern Italy long before the turn of the century. The Romans then spread it throughout the Mediterranean countries. It is also associated (as is Muscat Blanc) with the ancient variety Vitis apiana mentioned by Pliny the Elder (23-79).
Under the name Zibibbo, the vine was known in Sicily in the 16th century and was mentioned by the Venetian botanist Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501-1577) (who, incidentally, described the tomato introduced from America in 1544). The name Zibibbo is derived from the Arabic "Zabib" (Zibebe = sultana). Under this name it is still used today in the wines of the DOC area on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria. The hypothesis of a descent from South Africa because of a Cape Zibbib supposedly located there is obsolete (there is no such thing there, a Cape Zbib exists in Tunisia). The main name Muscat of Alexandria (Muscat d'Alexandrie) then appeared for the first time in Paris in 1713 and has become established. The variety is included in the work "Le Raisin: ses espèces et variétés dessinées et colorées d'après nature" published in 1815 by the German botanist Johann Simon Kerner (1769-1832), illustrated by himself (picture in the middle).
Properties
The late-maturing, high-yielding vine with brownish-reddish, sugar-rich berries is susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis as well as insect infestation. It is sensitive to cold, especially at flowering. It loves warmth and is therefore very suitable for hot climates. The variety yields high-alcohol white wines with discreet rose and muscat tones (more restrained than Muscat Blanc). The variety is mainly used for the production of sweet wines. However, it is also used as table grape and for the production of sultanas. In northern countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands or England, it is used for greenhouse cultivation, for which it is excellent. In South America, it is also used for the distillation of spirits such as Pisco and Singani, as well as for the production of RCGM (rectified grape must concentrate).
Areas under cultivation
Areas under cultivation in Europe are in France mainly Languedoc-Roussillon (2,462 ha), Greece (773 ha), Italy mainly in the south and in Sardinia and Sicily (1,375 ha), Portugal (509 ha), Russia (21 ha), Spain mainly in the regions of Andalusia and Levante (9,534 ha), Turkey and Cyprus. Outside Europe or overseas, there are areas under cultivation in Algeria (200 ha), Argentina (2,716 ha), Australia 2,179 ha), Bolivia, Brazil (6 ha), Chile (5,424 ha), China (3.000 ha), Ecuador, India (100 ha), Israel (220 ha), Colombia, Morocco (2,093 ha), Peru, South Africa (1,781 ha), Tunisia (405 ha), Uruguay (22 ha) and USA mainly in California (1,987 ha). In 2016, a total of 34,805 hectares of vines were declared (in 2000, it was twice as much). It is thus ranked 25th in the world grape variety ranking (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012.
Image left: From Viala et Vermorel - Ampélographie, public domain, link.
Picture middle: Le raisin (1815) by Johann Simon Kerner
Picture right: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
