{{Short description|Wine made from muscat grapes}} {{about|the wine|the Darjeeling tea flavor|Muscatel (tea)}} [[File:Navarra Moscatel.jpg|thumb|Fortified Spanish wine from the Navarre region made from Muscat blanc a Petits Grains]] '''Muscatel''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|ʌ|s|k|ə|ˈ|t|ɛ|l}} {{respell|MUSK|ə|TEL}}) is a term used for wines made from grapes of the Muscat family. The Muskat family comprises numerous grape variations grown internationally and is associated with a range of wine styles. In modern wine usage, “Muscat” is the family name, while related terms such as “Moscato” (Italian) and “Moscatel” (Iberian) are used in regional naming traditions.Outside the United States, “muscatel” (sometimes spelled “moscatel”) is a general term referring to wines made from Muscat grapes in styles including still, sparkling, dry, sweet, and fortified wines. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Button |first=James |date=2024-08-16 |title=What’s the difference between Muscat, Moscatel and Moscato? |url=https://www.decanter.com/learn/difference-muscat-moscatel-moscato-463852/ |access-date=2026-04-28 |website=Decanter |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tastings |first=James Button published in |date=2024-05-09 |title=Time to try Moscato |url=https://www.decanter.com/learn/time-to-try-moscato-528936/ |access-date=2026-04-28 |website=Decanter |language=en}}</ref>
== Usage ==
=== United States usage === In the United States, the term "muscatel" normally refers only to inexpensive fortified wine made from grapes. Fortified muscatel became popular in the United States at the end of Prohibition, when, in order to meet the sudden surge in demand for wine, some inferior strains of muscat grapes (normally sold as table grapes or made into raisins) were mixed with sugar and cheap brandy to produce what came to be pejoratively referred to as "wino wine." As a result, the label "muscatel" became associated in the U.S. with inferior-quality wine, so that today in that country, fine wines made from superior strains of muscat grapes tend not to be called "muscatel."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hailman |first1=John R. |title=Thomas Jefferson on Wine |page=[https://archive.org/details/thomasjeffersono00hail/page/50 50] | year=2006 | publisher = University Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781578068418 |url=https://archive.org/details/thomasjeffersono00hail|url-access=registration }}</ref> However, outside the U.S., "muscatel" (sometimes spelled "moscatel") refers to the full range of wines made with muscat grapes.
'''International usage'''
In international wine terminology, related terms such as ''Muscat, Moscatel,'' and ''Moscato'' are applied to a broad range of wines made from Muscat-family grapes.In Spain, Moscatel is associated with sweet wines from Málaga, Alicante, and Valencia. In Portugal, Moscatel is associated with Moscatel de Setúbal, a traditional fortified wine from the Península de Setúbal.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Península de Setúbal - winesofportugal.com |url=https://winesofportugal.com/en/discover/wine-regions/peninsula-de-setubal/ |access-date=2026-04-28 |website=winesofportugal.com}}</ref>
'''Historical usage in Germany'''
In 16th-century Germany, "muscatel" was also the term for Rhine wines to which elderflower-infused ''Salvia sclarea'' had been added to make a more potent beverage. The varietal of the plant used in this concoction thus acquired the common name, "muscatel sage".<ref name=rodale>[https://books.google.com/books/about/Rodale_s_Illustrated_Encyclopedia_of_Her.html?id=htGD3Y7WNxwC Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs]</ref>
== Protected geographical indications == In Portugal, the designation ''Setúbal'' is reserved for Moscatel de Setúbal and Moscatel Roxo wines from the Península de Setúbal.<ref name=":1" />
== See also == * Moscatel de Setúbal
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Wines}} Category:Fortified wine
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