Moscatello di Saracena is an ancient Calabrian grape variety with particularly strong ties to the Saracena area, on the slopes of Mount Pollino, in the province of Cosenza. Local tradition traces its arrival back to the period of Arab presence, whilst the wine made from its grapes was already known in the 16th century, even in the circles of the papal court. The leaf is medium-sized, generally three- or five-lobed, with a deep green colour; the bunch, medium-sized and rather elongated, may be cylindrical or conical in shape, and is often compact. The berry is medium to large, spherical, with a thick, pruinose skin, yellow-green in colour tending towards amber as it ripens, and soft flesh with a characteristic Muscat flavour. Cultivation remains heavily concentrated in Saracena, with local presence also in the Locride area, where the variety may be designated by traditional appellations. Its most famous expression is Moscato di Saracena, a passito wine produced by drying the bunches and subsequently blending the dehydrated grapes with a concentrated must made from Guarnaccia, Malvasia and other local grapes. In the glass, it stands out for its golden amber colour and intense aroma of ripe flowers, honey, dried figs, exotic fruit and candied citrus. It is a sweet, full-bodied and persistent wine, underpinned by freshness and savouriness, capable of ageing well in the bottle. The manual selection of the grapes and the traditional cooking of the must are among its most distinctive oenological features.
