A bunch with centuries of history

The Mediterranean holds in its memory landscapes, aromas, and flavors that have traveled through time. Among them, few are as emblematic as the Muscat of Alexandria grape. Golden in the sun, aromatic and voluptuous, this variety has become a symbol of Mediterranean winemaking culture. Each bunch tells not only a story of land and climate, but also of people who knew how to transform nature into art: the art of wine and aperitif.

Ancient origins: from Phoenicians to Romans

The name muscatel could come from the Persian "musc ," the Greek "moscos, " or the Latin " muscus ," all related to musk and the fact that its intense aroma attracted even flies. The truth is that this variety traveled from the East to settle on the shores of the Mare Nostrum, where it found a perfect home.

The Phoenicians brought viticulture to the Iberian Peninsula, and it was the Iberians who founded the first wineries in the 7th century BC. Wine presses, wine vats, and amphorae have been found in and around Denia, demonstrating the importance of wine in those communities. Later, the Romans continued the cultivation: villas with vats, potteries, and warehouses consolidated the Levantine coast as a wine exporter to Italy, the Balearic Islands, and other parts of the Empire.

18th and 19th centuries: the splendor of Muscat

The true heyday of Muscat of Alexandria came in the 18th century. In Spain—particularly in Alicante, Valencia, and Málaga—as well as in parts of Italy and France, it established itself as a key grape for the production of highly prestigious sweet wines. Aromatic, floral, and with an incomparable natural sweetness, these wines became highly sought-after exports.

During this same period, the production of Muscat raisins experienced spectacular growth. Regions such as Málaga and the Marina Alta—with towns like Benissa, Teulada, and Moraira—specialized in a product that reached international markets as a true luxury.

In the 19th century, Muscat's popularity grew even further, with a boom in the production of sweet and fortified wines that swept countries like England. But the end of the century brought the phylloxera plague, which devastated European vineyards. Even so, many Mediterranean areas managed to resist or recover through grafting onto American vines, thus preserving the survival of Muscat of Alexandria.

A taste of identity: what is the Muscat of Alexandria like?

Tasting a Muscat bean is like traveling in an instant to the heart of the Mediterranean.

  • Visual : Its color ranges from gold to pale yellow, bright like a ray of sunshine.
  • Aroma : Floral and fruity, with notes of honey, tropical fruits, citrus peel and even a touch of spice.
  • Taste : sweet and fruity, with the sensation of ripe fruit balanced by moderate acidity.
  • Texture : soft, round, with a voluptuous body in the sweet wines made from it.

This profile makes Muscat a versatile grape, capable of producing sweet and dry wines, vermouths full of personality, and even raisins that are true gastronomic treasures.

Soil and climate: the magic of the Marina Alta

If there's one place where Muscat of Alexandria shines brightly, it's the Marina Alta. The natural conditions of this region are a gift for the vine:

  • Calcareous and stony soils , which drain water well and force the plant to work harder, thus concentrating the sugars in the grapes.
  • Stepped terraces , which take advantage of the slope of the land to capture maximum sunlight.
  • Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers, mild winters, and more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
  • Sea breezes , which regulate temperature, cool the vines and reduce the risk of disease.
  • Almost complete absence of frost , which allows the vines to develop regularly.

These conditions give the Muscat of Alexandria grown here a unique identity: intensely aromatic grapes, with a balanced sweetness and freshness reminiscent of the landscape where they are grown.

Moscatel today: tradition and modernity

Over the centuries, Muscat of Alexandria has remained a cultural, agricultural, and gastronomic heritage. Its versatility makes it a staple in both traditional sweet wines and more contemporary offerings: artisanal vermouths, Mediterranean aperitifs, and reinterpretations that seek to bring this grape closer to new generations.

Beyond the product itself, Muscat is also a symbol of identity. It's the grape that unites families, the one present at long summer dinners, at popular festivals, and among exports that bring a little piece of the Mediterranean to the world.

Toast to the Mediterranean

Muscat of Alexandria is not just a grape variety: it's a symbol. It represents the memory of the land, the constancy of winemaking, and the beauty of simplicity. Each bunch is a bridge between past and present, between history and enjoyment.

When a glass of Moscatel is raised in the midday sun or shared during the ritual of aperitifs, we are not just drinking wine: we are drinking centuries of culture, the sea, and Mediterranean life.