Wine Growing Areas

Muscat in California

Here is an overview of principal California American Viticultural Areas, (AVAs), the U.S. equivalent of appellations, associated with Muscat. For a deep dive into specific regions, please visit our Regional Guides

California Muscat Acreage by Clonal Variety (2024)

COUNTY 2024 TOTAL GRAPE ACRES
(bearing and non-bearing)
2024 TOTAL GRAPE HECTARES
(bearing and non-bearing)
Muscat of Alexandria 4,169 1687.17
Muscat Blanc 2,780 1125.05
Muscat Orange 285 115.34
Muscat Hamburg 74 29.95
Moscato Gaillo 153 61.92
STATE TOTAL 7,556 3,057.87

California Muscat Acreage by County (2024)

COUNTY 2024 TOTAL GRAPE ACRES
(bearing and non-bearing)
2024 TOTAL GRAPE HECTARES
(bearing and non-bearing)
Fresno 2,984 1207.61
Kern 966 390.93
Madera 885 358.15
Merced 646 261.43
Tulare 544 220.15
San Joaquin 228 92.27
Kings 209 84.58
Colusa 200 80.98
Yolo 142 57.47
San Luis Obispo 137 55.44
Other 617 249.70
STATE TOTAL 7,556 3057.87

While the bulk of Muscat plantings occur in California’s Central Valley, as the economic metrics of the Muscat grape do not permit it to take up more expensive vineyard land and crop space from other “higher value” grapes, one can nevertheless find the various Muscat grapes in many parts of the state in more diminutive quantities. 


Muscat Around The World

Muscat grapes, in one form or another, are grown in every important wine-producing country in the world. In addition to producing outstanding varietal wines, Muscat is used extensively in the production of a wide range of blended wines and is the basis for Pisco, a unique brandy made in Chile and Peru, and Metaxa, a grape brandy from Greece. 

Beyond the glass, Muscats count among the few notable wine grapes that are also commonly eaten both fresh and dried (as raisins). Many Muscats look more like a table crop on the vine, with big, juicy grapes. Although Petits Grains translates to “small berries,” in most regions, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (aka Muscat Blanc) is only small-berried within the realm of Muscats; by other standards, it is quite large. Wine professionals will often refer to Muscat’s distinctive “grapey” flavor, a descriptor applied to few other vinifera varieties. While this character may derive from several sources—certain Muscat wines, like Italy’s Moscato d’Asti, are effectively barely fermented must (grape juice and solids)


MUSCAT BLANC

  • France: Languedoc (Muscat de Lunel, Muscat de Côtes du Mireval, Muscat Frontignan and St-Jean de Minervois), Rhône Valley (Beaumes de Venise), Roussillon (Muscat de Rivesaltes), Corsica
  • Italy: Piedmont (Asti)
  • North Africa: Tunisia
  • Australia: Victoria (Rutherglen)
  • South Africa: Coastal Region (Constantia)
  • Other: Cyprus
  • The Americas: Canada (British Columbia), Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil (Farroupilha)
  • USA (beyond CA): Oregon, Washington, Virginia


MUSCAT ALEXANDRIA

  • France: Roussillon (Muscat de Rivesaltes)
  • Italy: Pantelleria
  • Other European countries:  Portugal (Setubal), Spain (Canary Islands, Alicante, Valencia, Jerez, Málaga, La Mancha), Greece (Límnos), Turkey
  • Australia: Victoria (Rutherglen)
  • South Africa: Coastal region (Constantia, Olifants River, Breedekloof)
  • Other countries: Israel, Tunisia
  • The Americas: Peru, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Mexico


MUSCAT GIALLO

  • Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Friuli, Sicily
  • Other European countries:  Croatia, Switzerland (Valais), Slovenia, Germany (Pfalz)
  • Australia: Victoria (Rutherglen)
  • South Africa: Coastal region (Constantia)


MUSCAT ORANGE

  • Italy: Veneto
  • Other European countries: France 
  • Australia: Victoria (Rutherglen, Beechworth, Glenrowan, Goulburn Valley and King Valley)


MUSCAT HAMBURG

  • European countries: Cyprus, Greece (Thessalía), Serbia, North Macedonia, Russia, France (Ventoux), Italy, Germany
  • Australia: Victoria (Rutherglen)
  • Other countries: China, South Africa
  • The Americas: Brazil (Farroupilha), Canada (Vancouver Island)
  • USA (beyond CA): Virginia, Oregon, Texas, and Washington


MUSCAT OTTONEL

  • France: Alsace
  • Austria: Niederösterreich, Burgenland
  • Other European countries:  Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Czech Republic, Moldova, Crimea, Ukraine, Moldova
  • Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
  • Africa: South Africa
  • Australia
  • The Americas: Canada (British Columbia)
  • USA (beyond CA): New York, Oregon, Virginia