Muscatel (/ˌmʌskəˈtɛl/MUSK-ə-TEL) may refer to any type ofwine made frommuscat grapes. In the United States, however, "muscatel" normally refers only tofortified wine made from these grapes. Fortified muscatel became popular in the United States at the end ofProhibition, 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."[1] However, outside the U.S., "muscatel" (sometimes spelled "moscatel") refers to the full range of wines made with muscat grapes.
In 16th-century Germany, "muscatel" was also the term forRhine wines to whichelderflower-infusedSalvia 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".[2]
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