Muscat grapes range from white to almost black in colour.

Date: October 13, 2010

The Muscat grape is the world’s oldest known grape variety.

It probably originated in Greece but maybe the independent sultanate of Muscat in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula had something to do with it. No doubt a Roman soldier or Phoenician trader brought it through Italy into Roman France. Early records show it shipped from the port of Frontignan in SW France during Charlemagne’s reign.

In the following centuries the Romans took the variety further through France and Germany. The Greeks took it to the Crimea in the Soviet Union and the Egyptians sent cuttings south to what is now South Africa. Egyptian traders gave them Muscat of Alexandria and European immigrants brought cuttings of Muscat a Petits Grains with them.

And here’s the interesting part. Muscat was officially introduced into Australia in the Busby Collection of 1832 and endorsed by Macarthur in 1844 as a suitable variety for Australian conditions. However, many early vine cuttings found their way into Australia via South Africa. Cuttings and seeds coming from South Africa account for many Australian early agricultural imports. The Americas received Muscat wines with its early Spanish and Italian immigrants.

Over 200 different varieties and derivatives to the Muscat family exist today. The most commonly known varieties of muscat grapes are:
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 coloured 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 (and is one of only three permitted grape varieties to be used in a true 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
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

Muscat is the only grape to produce wine with the same aroma as the grape itself. Sweet fortified Muscats have a classic rich, nose of dried fruits, raisins and oranges. This strong perfume prompted the Roman author Pliny, in his “Natural History,” to declare it “the grape of the bees.” The French noted the grape’s musky character and called it “Musqué,”

The vine itself is very vigorous but low yielding with medium size very dark green leaves. Bunches are medium sized, cylindrical in shape and elongated, very much like a chardonnay bunch. Muscat grapes range from white to almost black in colour. The Muscat we grow in Australia produces berries of medium size starting out green and transparent and then ripening to a rich golden yellow colour with a tinge of red. The fruit ripens early and is often left out on the vine till it starts to shrivel so as to produce grapes very high in natural sugars.

Muscat grapes are used in a variety of wine styles from the sugary Italian Asti Spumante to the sweet and strong Australian fortifieds and South African Constantia. Pisco is a unique brandy popular in Chile and Peru. It’s made from white Muscat varieties which grow in two places: the region of Pisco, Peru and the Valle del río Elqui in central Chile. Metaxa is a brandy liqueur from Greece which also uses Muscat grapes while France’s Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is another fortified wine with delicious orange aromas. At the other extreme is another French sparkling white called Clairette de Die with a fruity musky palate.

Source: http://www.uncork.biz/tidbits19.htm

The wine shop in Angeles Philippines Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga as well as other wine shops, wine bars and wine outlets in Subic and Manila are wells stocked with interesting selections of Muscat/Muscatel wine from various producers covering a wide range of prices. Yats Wine Cellars likes to regard itself as more than a wine shop but a source of useful information about wine that makes drinking wine such an interesting hobby.

As a wine collector, hobbyist or someone in the wine trade, are you concerned or interested about this also? If so, please stay tuned in to Yats Wine Cellars’ web site to stay abreast of things to do with wine in the world.

News and pertinent information about wine trade, wine appreciation, wine shops and outlets, wine and food pairing, wine making, viticulture, vintages, climate conditions affecting wine, new and revived wine regions etc can be found here in this section. Yats wine Cellars is much more than a Philippines wine supplier with a few wine shops, wine bars and wine outlets in Philippines where clients can buy good wines in Manila, Angeles City, Subic and Clark Philippines. Yats Wine Cellars is also a rich source of information for the convenience of the growing community of wine lovers, wine connoisseurs and hobbyists. Wine lovers in Manila, Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga, Clark Philippines can enjoy fine vintage wines in any of Yats Wine Cellars wine shopping outlets, wine bars, wine shops and wine restaurants.

You are welcome to post your comments and questions about any topic related to wine on http://www.YatsWineCellars.com or email Wine@Yats-International.com with your comments, suggestions, questions, purchases or inquiries on wine and wine-related topics. Don’t forget to register yourself on our mailing list to be informed of the dates and venues of the Yats Wine Experience public wine tasting events.

Leading Philippines Wine Supplier Yats Wine Cellars based in Clark Philippines with outlets in Angeles City, Subic Freeport and Manila Philippines has been not only a wine shop for fine wines covering all major wine regions but also a source of reliable and useful information about wine, wine appreciation, wine accessories, wine and health, food and wine pairing and all other matters relating to wine and its appreciation. This Philippines Clark Freeport based Wine Supplier and Wine Shop frequently holds public wine tasting events in Pampana Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Subic Bay area, Makati, Fort Bonifacio and other areas in Philippines capital city Manila. Private Wine events such as private wine tasting and private wine dinners are also designed and organized for private clientele for their wine loving guests.

This wine shop in Angeles Clark Philippines is also renowned for a very unique product called Vintage Beer which many characterize as “Champagne beer” because it comes in a bottle with a Champagne stopper and metal restrainer. Vintage beers are top-of-the-line luxury beers bottle-conditioned for a slow fermentation to take place inside the bottle, a process that is very similar to Champagne which is designed to not only create the bubbles but also for an amazing complexity and depth of flavors.

For fans of Port and Sauternes, this wine shop in Clark Pampanga has a large selection of vintage port, Sauternes and Barsac as well as Eiswein/Icewine from Austria and Germany. Likewise, there is a good selection of Vintage Champagne at the wine shoppers’ disposal in the cellars of this wine shop in Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com