Muscat Blanc Grapes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Muscat Blanc grapes grow in tightly clustered, medium-sized, tapered bunches and are attached with fibrous, green-brown branching stems. Each bunch is comprised of small grapes averaging around 0.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter and the fruits are round to slightly oval in shape. The grapes have thin, smooth, taut, and glossy skin, covered in a faint powdery bloom. The grapes also showcase a translucent, green hue, sometimes blushed with faint red patches and select brown spots. Underneath the surface, the flesh is firm with some give when squeezed and has an aqueous, tender, and succulent consistency. The flesh also has a pale coloring, exhibits some veining, and typically contains 1 to 3 seeds. Muscat Blanc grapes are aromatic and edible raw once ripe. The grapes are known for having a sweet, sugary, musky, floral, and fruity taste.
Seasons/Availability
Muscat Blanc grapes are typically harvested in the late summer through early fall, between mid-August through mid-September.
Current Facts
Muscat Blanc grapes, botanically classified as Vitis vinifera, are an ancient, versatile grape, belonging to the Vitaceae family. The name Muscat is derived from the Latin word “muscum,” roughly translating to mean “moss,” a descriptor given for the grape’s distinct, musky aroma. Muscat grapes are one of the oldest categories of grapes and were thought to have been the first grape type to be commercially produced in ancient times. Worldwide, there are now over 200 varieties of grapes within the Muscat family ranging in flavor, coloring, and appearance due to extensive genetic mutation. Within the family, subgroups were created to help organize the varieties, and Muscat Blanc is one of the main groupings and also represents a specific type of grape prevalently grown throughout the Mediterranean. The variety is known by several names worldwide, including Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains in France, Moscato d'Asti, Moscato di Canelli, Moscato Bianco, and Muscat Canelli in Italy, and Moscatel de Grano Menudo in Spain and Portugal. Muscat Blanc grapes are known for being one of the only grape families that are used to make wine and sold as a table grape. The grapes are challenging to grow as they require an extended growing season, are susceptible to diseases, and produce low yields, but they have remained an important type of grape cultivated worldwide. As a table grape, Muscat Blanc is favored for its sweet, fruity, floral, and sugary taste and is consumed as a seasonal delicacy in a wide array of sweet and savory preparations.
Nutritional Value
Muscat Blanc grapes are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, and vitamin B6 to help maintain a healthy nervous system. The grapes also provide magnesium to control daily bodily functions, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and vitamin A to help with the overall wellbeing of the body. Grapes, in general, are a source of antioxidants to reduce inflammation and protect the cells against the damage caused by free radicals.
Applications
Muscat Blanc grapes have a sweet, sugary, fruity, and floral flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is popularly consumed as a table grape and is eaten in season straight, out of hand. Muscat Blanc grapes can also be sliced and tossed into green salads, served with fresh cheeses, or mixed into fruit medleys. The variety is prized for its sweetness and is often chilled or frozen for an enhanced texture. Muscat Blanc grapes can be frozen and dropped into beverages, frozen and eaten as a snack, or blended into sorbets. The sweet fruits are also often incorporated into tarts, cakes, crumbles, and cookies. Try roasting Muscat Blanc grapes with pears and spices or simmering into syrups, jams, and preserves. In addition to sweet preparations, Muscat Blanc grapes can be cooked and served with meat main dishes, roasted in balsamic and thyme, or topped over bruschetta. They can also be combined into risotto and pasta, simmered into sauces, or baked into focaccia. Beyond cooked dishes, Muscat Blanc grapes can be blended into juices, smoothies, and flavorings for cocktails. They can also be dried into raisins for extended use. Muscat Blanc grapes pair well with herbs such as basil, thyme, and rosemary, cheeses such as brie, gouda, cheddar, and goat, and meats including duck, veal, and poultry. Whole, unwashed Muscat Blanc grapes will keep for a few days at room temperature and for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator. The variety can also be frozen for extended use.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Muscat Blanc grapes are famously known for making Moscato d’Asti, a sweet, sparkling white wine produced in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Historically, Moscato d’Asti was known as a wine that winemakers made for themselves as the wine was effervescent, fruity, and low in alcohol. Having a low alcohol content allowed winemakers to consume the wine at lunch and continue to work throughout the day without a lapse in productivity. Moscato d’Asti became a favored wine throughout the Piedmont region and in 1932, a consortium was established to protect the winemaking process, including the land, cultivation, and grapes. The wine also evolved into a digestif to cleanse the palate before dessert when consumed during multi-course meals. Moscato d’Asti is still made in Piedmont in the modern day and Muscat Blanc grapes are the only grapes used for the wine. The traditional wine in Piedmont region became such a specialized delicacy it received a DOCG in 1993, or a Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin. In Italy, Moscato d’Asti is often served for celebratory gatherings and occasions and is treasured as a local delicacy.
Geography/History
Muscat Blanc grapes are thought to be native to the Eastern Mediterranean and were first grown in Greece in ancient times. Much of the grape’s early history is unknown, but a few records indicate that Muscat grapes were valued for their sweet flavor and were eaten fresh and made into wine. Muscat grapes were later spread to the Western Mediterranean through trade between the Greeks and the Romans. Viticulturists hypothesize that the Romans introduced the grapes to areas throughout Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and eventually into England. Muscat grapes were planted throughout grape growing regions in Europe, and the first official record of the name Muscat was listed in the 13th century Treatise of agriculture “Ruralia Commoda,” written by Pietro de’ Crescenzi. Over time, Muscat grapes expanded in cultivation to growing regions worldwide, especially in Australia and the United States, and became a widely cultivated grape family. Today, Muscat Blanc grapes thrive in warm and sunny climates and are widely grown in Italy, France, and Greece. The Muscat Blanc grapes featured in the photograph above were sourced from a local vendor in Mercato Trionfale in Rome, Italy.
