Moscatel de Alejandría

The Moscatel de Alejandría is the great white grape of Alicante and one of the oldest and most renowned aromatic varieties of the Mediterranean. In the province, it is particularly associated with the Marina Alta, the coastal region of valleys such as Xaló, Teulada, or Dénia, where the mild climate and sea breeze give this grape an aromatic expression that is hard to match.<\/p>

With large, loose clusters, thick, juicy berries, and a firm skin, the Moscatel is a generous grape that lends itself to many expressions: dry, fresh white wines, sparkling wines, and especially sweet wines and mistelas, which are a hallmark of the region. It has also traditionally been a table grape and a raisin variety, prized for the incomparable sweetness of its berries.<\/p>

For wine tourists, the Moscatel is the most pleasant entry point into Alicante wine: its unmistakable aroma of ripe grape, orange blossom, and honey connects the terraced landscape by the sea with the glass. Touring the wineries of Marina Alta is, in large part, following the trail of this luminous grape.<\/p>

The Moscatel de Alejandría is an ancient variety, spread across the Mediterranean since Antiquity and linked to the trade routes that transported the vine from one shore to another. Its name refers to Egypt, and its cultivation early on spread along the coasts of the Iberian Peninsula, where it found perfect conditions along the Alicante coast.<\/p>

In Marina Alta, the cultivation of Moscatel fostered a unique culture around sweet wine, mistela, and raisins, with characteristic dry stone terraces climbing the slopes. For generations, these wines were part of the economy and festivities in the region's towns, and the production of mistela — must from Moscatel fortified with wine alcohol — became a family tradition passed down from parents to children.<\/p>

Today, the Moscatel is experiencing a revitalization: alongside the traditional sweet wines, wineries are producing dry and sparkling whites that showcase its fresher side and affirm the heritage of the old vineyards of Marina Alta as a treasure that attracts visitors from all over Europe.<\/p>

The Moscatel de Alejandría is distinguished by its large, numerous, and loose clusters, with good-sized berries, firm pulp, and tough skin. It is a grape of great aromatic power and high sugar accumulation, qualities that explain its remarkable versatility in the winery.<\/p>

It adapts well to the warm and sunny climate of the coast, and is traditionally cultivated on terraces in poor soils near the sea. It gives rise to a wide variety of styles: dry, light, and fragrant white wines; sparkling wines; and above all, natural sweet wines and mistelas, which are dense and unctuous, as well as excellent raisins. This ability to produce such diverse wines from a single grape is one of its great virtues.<\/p>

The Moscatel is one of the few grapes whose wine unmistakably smells of the grape itself. Its wines offer an intense and recognizable profile: ripe grape, orange blossom, and white flowers such as jasmine, orange peel, honey, and a background of stone fruit. In the sweeter varieties, those aromas become more luscious, with notes of raisin, date, and candied citrus.<\/p>

On the palate, the dry wines are fresh and fragrant; the sweet wines are dense, unctuous, and long-lasting, with sweetness balanced by acidity. It pairs perfectly with Mediterranean pastries, almond desserts, blue cheeses, and in its dry version, with rice dishes, fish, and the cuisine of the Costa Blanca.<\/p>

The Moscatel de Alejandría requires warmth and long sunlight exposure to fully ripen and concentrate its sugars and aromas, which is why it performs excellently in the Mediterranean climate of the Alicante coastline. It is susceptible to certain cluster diseases in humid environments, making the dry and ventilated climate of Marina Alta particularly favorable.<\/p>

Its traditional cultivation on dry terraces, in poor, well-drained soils, promotes concentration and quality, and is an essential part of the region's cultural landscape.<\/p>