Muscat Ottonel

Muscat Ottonel is a white grape variety primarily grown in Central and Eastern Europe. It is known for its strong aromas and medium-bodied wines with a distinctively sweet taste.

Muscat Ottonel is a white grape variety with thick skin and of yellow colour. It is known for its powerful aromas of apricot, peach and rose, with a floral, slightly spicy bouquet. On the palate, these wines are medium-bodied with an off-dry finish and a distinctively sweet taste with notes of honey and ripe fruit.

The variety is mostly known for its use in dessert wines from Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Croatia and Serbia as well as dry wines from Alsace and Hungary. Furthermore, Muscat Ottonel is cultivated in the USA, Canada and South Africa. Muscat Ottonel is an early-ripening, low vigour variety which prefers cooler climates with plenty of sunshine. The wines are usually made in a sweet or off-dry style with the best known examples coming from the Alsace region in the eastern part of France. In the eastern part of Europe, Muscat Ottonel is often made into a dry or off-dry white wine with a light body and floral aromas. In Alsace, it is used to make sweet dessert wines, which are made from late-harvested or botrytized grapes. Muscat Ottonel pairs well with light seafood dishes such as grilled fish, as well as with creamy pasta dishes and cheese platters. The sweeter styles pair well with desserts such as crème brûlée and fruit tarts.

Muscat Ottonel is the palest of all the Muscats, in terms of colour as well as aroma.

However, it ripens earlier than the more aromatic Muscat blanc and Muscat of Alexandria and therefore better suitbale for cooler growing regions.