Origin of the Muscat of Alexandria grape
There are different theories about the origin of the Muscat grape. Some of them place the origin of this variety in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Persia, between 1000 and 3000 BC.
On the other hand, prestigious experts in ampelography, such as the Frenchman Pierre Galet, believe that the Muscatel was spread around the Mediterranean by the Greeks and Romans between 800 and 600 BC.
Classical authors such as Pliny the Elder and Columella already described varieties such as Apianae and Anathelicon Moschaton with the characteristics of the Muscat grape, although there is no solid evidence that these grapes belonged to the Muscat family.
The first documented mention of Muscatel was made by the Franciscan monk Bartolomeo Anglico in his work De proprietatibus rerum around 1235.
At present, the most widespread theory about the origin of the Muscat of Alexandria grape, according to various DNA analyses, is that of a natural cross between the Greek Axina de Tres Bias grape and the Morisco or small-grain Muscat.
Although its name suggests that it may have originated in Ancient Egypt, there is no scientific evidence to corroborate this theory.
As for the Morisco Muscat grape, the most widely accepted theory is that it originated in Turkey or Greece, and that it was the Greeks themselves who introduced it to France, from where it spread to other countries.
There are also different theories as to the origin of the word «muscatel»: from the Persian muchk, from the Greek moskos, from the Latin muscus, from the French musc or from the Italian mosca. All of them refer to an insect, the fly, which is supposed to have been attracted by this sweet grape.
Other theories defend the geographical origin of the name, either from the city of Muscat, in the Gulf of Oran, or the Greek city of Moschato.
The very antiquity of the Muscat grape makes it very difficult to find out its true origin. This variety has been used as a foodstuff and as an ingredient for wine production for thousands of years. However, and as a consolation, despite not knowing its exact origin, we can sense that it will continue to accompany us for a few thousand years more.
Source: Vinetur
