Grape
Moscatel
White grape of the sherry region, full name Moscatel de Alejandría. About 3 percent of plantings. Base for sweet Moscatel sherry, often sun-dried via asoleo.
What it is
In the sherry region, Moscatel means Moscatel de Alejandría, or Muscat of Alexandria. A white grape with large berries and characteristic floral aromatics. One of three officially authorised grapes under the Sherry DO, alongside Palomino (95+ percent of plantings) and Pedro Ximénez. Moscatel sits at around 3 percent.
Where it grows
Concentrated along the coast, especially around Chipiona and parts of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Prefers arenas soils: sandy dune soils right by the sea. Unlike Palomino, which performs best on albariza (chalky marl), Moscatel thrives on the alternative soils the sherry region offers.
Types of Moscatel sherry
Moscatel makes almost exclusively sweet sherry. Two production routes:
- Asoleo method: grapes are dried in the sun for several days after harvest, like Pedro Ximénez. Sugars concentrate, the juice becomes thick and sweet.
- Fresh vinification: less common but exists. Yields lighter, dry to off-dry expressions.
Most Moscatel bottlings then age under a Solera system, sometimes for 10 to 30 years.
In the glass
Compared to Pedro Ximénez (rich raisin, fig, dark molasses), Moscatel is distinctly floral and citrussy. Orange blossom, orange peel, yellow stone fruit (peach, apricot), dried dates and honey. Lighter in colour and lighter on the palate than PX, with more aromatic lift and less density.
Producers
- Bodegas Lustau: known for their “Moscatel Emilín”
- Valdespino: “Toneles” 100 percent old Moscatel
- González Byass: a Moscatel sits in the “Néctar” range alongside their PX
- Hidalgo La Gitana: Moscatel “Triana”
- Argüeso: Moscatel from Sanlúcar