Moscatel is a particularly aromatic grape variety, with floral, citrus and grape aromas. It reaches high sugar levels when ripe and is ideal for making fortified wines. Two regions of Portugal are famous for the fortified Moscatel: the Douro and the Setúbal Peninsula. On the other side of the Tagus River in the outskirts of Lisbon, you can also find a little in some locations.

The Moscatel has numerous variants all over the world. Two of the main types are produced in Portugal, one known locally as Moscatel de Setúbal (whose international name is Moscatel de Alexandria), and the Moscatel Galego Branco (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains), the type found in the Douro, recognised worldwide as the most elegant and fragrant of the family - although elegance also depends on the location and management of the vineyard, and where and how the wine is made. Setúbal also has a small part of what is thought to be a mutation of the White Galician Muscatel, the Purple Moscatel