Moscatel

Moscatel is one of the oldest grape variety families in the world, defined by a distinctive, almost ethereal aromatic character. Its berries carry the perfume of the south within them: orange blossom, jasmine and delicate muscat spice meld into a dense bouquet. Whether vinified dry or as a lusciously sweet nectar, the variety retains, despite its generous fruitiness, an invigorating freshness that pairs beautifully with aged cheese or savoury starters.

Just how versatile Moscatel can be is demonstrated in Portugal’s Douro Valley. The house of Niepoort illustrates this with a twenty-year-aged interpretation that celebrates the region’s oxidative mastery through amber-hued reflections and profound complexity. That the variety also excels as a team player in the Balearic Islands is proven by the Ibizkus Blanco, in which Moscatel joins forces with Macabeu and Malvasia to lend a delicate floral playfulness to the blend.