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Grapes / Moscatel Graúdo
White grape · Localised

Moscatel Graúdo

The Portuguese legal name for Muscat of Alexandria, central to Moscatel de Setúbal fortified wines.1

Muscat of Alexandria. It makes the rich fortified Moscatel de Setúbal and increasingly dry, aromatic table wines.

In the glassOrange peel, honey, grapes, flowers.

Character

Taste profile

Our guide

Our own 1–5 scores for a typical wine from this grape.

Body4/5 · Full
Acidity3/5 · Medium
Tanninn/a for a white grape
Aroma5/5 · Intense
AgeingUp to about 20 years
Typical bottle€12 (€7–80)

Vine & wine traits

Sourced

Scores mapped from the cited source’s own wording, quoted beneath each one. How they work

In the wine

Acidity4/5 · High2 Good, fresh acidity
Alcohol potential4/5 · High2 Reaches high sugar levels when matured

Aromas and uses

Sourced

Aroma families

Floral2Citrus2Dried fruit2Orchard fruit2

Typical uses

Still white2Fortified Moscatel2

Origin and parentage

Sourced

Wines of Portugal describes an eastern Mediterranean origin and Roman-era introduction to Iberia.2

Names

Sourced
NameKindWhereLegal status
Moscatel de Setúbal3Legal synonymPenínsula de SetúbalRestricted
restricted to Setúbal fortified-wine labelling
Muscat of Alexandria2Regional name—Not stated
international English name; Portuguese legal status not asserted

Where it grows

Sourced
RegionLinkProminenceNote
Península de SetúbalGrown herePrincipal grape for fortified Moscatel de Setúbal.4

Styles made with Moscatel Graúdo

Moscatel de Setúbal

Fortified

A rich fortified Muscat from the Setúbal Peninsula. After fortification the wine stays in contact with the grape skins for months, soaking up intense orange-peel and floral flavours. Aged versions turn amber and take on notes of caramel, dried apricot and walnut. Moscatel Roxo, from a rare pink-skinned grape, is especially prized.

Wines to try

Bacalhôa 5 Year Old Moscatel de Setúbal

Fortified
Bacalhôa · Península de Setúbal
Moscatel Graúdo
€5.99Everyday

Alambre Moscatel de Setúbal

Fortified
José Maria da Fonseca · Península de Setúbal
Moscatel Graúdo
€6.99lowest of 2 shopsEveryday

Alambre 20 Year Old Moscatel de Setúbal

Fortified
José Maria da Fonseca · Península de Setúbal
Moscatel Graúdo
€29.69lowest of 2 shops · 50 clSpecial

Bacalhôa Moscatel de Setúbal

Fortified
Bacalhôa · Península de Setúbal
Moscatel Graúdo

Horácio Simões Moscatel de Setúbal

Fortified
Horácio Simões · Península de Setúbal
Moscatel Graúdo

Moscatel de Setúbal

Fortified
Venâncio da Costa Lima · Península de Setúbal
Moscatel Graúdo

Producers to try

José Maria da Fonseca

Est. 1834
Azeitão · Península de Setúbal, Alentejo

One of Portugal’s oldest table-wine producers. Makes Periquita, Lancers rosé and Moscatel de Setúbal with a cellar of 19th-century stock, plus talha wines at its José de Sousa estate in the Alentejo.

Bacalhôa

Azeitão · Península de Setúbal, Alentejo, Douro

A large group based in Azeitão, named after the Renaissance Quinta da Bacalhôa. Known for Moscatel, Castelão and a Bordeaux-style red.

Venâncio da Costa Lima

Península de Setúbal

Palmela producer founded in 1914, producing regional table wines and Moscatel de Setúbal.

Horácio Simões

Península de Setúbal

Family producer in Quinta do Piloto, Palmela, known for Castelão and Moscatel de Setúbal.

Sources

Sourced

Numbered facts on this page come from the research archive and are backed by the sources below. Everything without a number is our own guide. How sourcing works

  1. Portaria n.º 380/2012, de 22 de novembroDiário da República · Legislation · Tier A · read 2026-08-17
  2. Moscatel de SetúbalViniPortugal / Wines of Portugal · Expert trade reference · Tier C · read 2026-08-17
  3. Aviso n.º 3999/2020 — synonym additions and scopesDiário da República · Official notice · Tier A · read 2026-08-17
  4. Península de SetúbalViniPortugal / Wines of Portugal · Expert trade reference · Tier C · read 2026-08-17