| Muscat of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
 Muscat of Alexandria in Viala & Vermorel | |
| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Muscat d'Alexandrie and other synonyms |
| Origin | Egypt |
| VIVC number | 8241 |
Muscat of Alexandria is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. It is considered an "ancient vine", and wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence.[1] The grape originated in North Africa, and the name is probably derived from its association with Ancient Egyptians who used the grape for wine making. It is also a table grape used for eating and raisins.[1]
Muscat of Alexandria is cultivated very heavily on the island of Lemnos in the North Eastern Aegean region of Greece, and reputedly Cleopatra drank muscat wine from there. In Italy wine is made from the grape on the island of Pantelleria, and it is grown in Calabria and Sicily where it is known as Zibibbo.[2] In Spain, the grape is the sixth most planted white grape variety with 10,318 hectares (25,496 acres) grown in 2015, mainly in Málaga, Alicante, Valencia, and the Canary Islands. It is an important grape in the Australian wine and South African wine industry.
- ^ a b J. Robinson Vines Grapes & Wines pg 185 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1-85732-999-6
- ^ Robinson, Jancis