Moscato Rosa is an ancient aromatic red grape variety, genetically distinct from the numerous Muscat varieties of the same name found throughout Italy. Its most characteristic presence became established in South Tyrol between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with probable historical links to the Muskat ruža porečki from the Croatian region; it is also grown in Trentino, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto and, in specific selections, in Sicily as well. The leaf is medium-sized, generally pentagonal and five-lobed, with a thick margin, a slightly blistered surface and a spiderweb-like underside. The bunch is medium or medium-large, pyramidal and often winged, with a structure that can be relatively loose; the berries are small or medium-sized, spherical or slightly ellipsoidal, with a pruinose skin that is firm and varies in colour from deep pink to purplish red. The flesh, generally colourless and soft, retains a distinct Muscat aroma. The grapes are mainly used to produce sweet wines, passito wines, late-harvest wines or fortified wines, with a pale ruby-red colour, sometimes tending towards cherry red, with aromas of rose, violet, red fruits, sweet spices and nutmeg. On the palate, they express sweetness, freshness and a light-bodied structure, supported by a fine tannic framework. Wines made from dried grapes can develop complex notes and a pleasant longevity.
