Black Muscat (or Muscat of Hamburg) is a red Vitis vinifera grape variety derived from the crossing of the Schiava Grossa and Muscat of Alexandria. It is known under a variety of local names such as Golden Hamburg, and Black Hamburg in the US; Muscat de Hambourg (or Hamburgh) in France; Moscato di Amburgo in Italy; and Muscat Gamburgskiy in Russia and former Soviet Union countries. Confusingly, Black Hamburg is also used as a synonym for its maternal parent. It is commonly produced as table wine but in California's Central Valley it has been used in the production of dessert wine. As a dessert wine it can be highly aromatic with a rich coloring. In the US it is grown in wine appellations in California, Virginia, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. In Canada, it is also found on Vancouver Island.[1]
In France, the grape is used chiefly as dessert grape including AOC varieties such as Muscat du Ventoux. In Eastern Europe, the grape produces a light, dry red wine. It is also starting to gain popularity as a table wine component in China.[2]Over the years, Black Muscat has been known under a variety of synonyms including: Aleatico, Black Hamburg, Black Muscat of Alexandria (in England), Black Muskat, Black of Alexandria, Blauer Hamburger Muskat, Ceuro, Chasselas Muscat Golden Hamburg, Esperione, Fekete Muskotally, Frankenthal, Gamburg, Gulabi, Golden Hamburg, Hambourg musqué (in France), Hambro, Hamburg, Hamburg Misketi, Hamburg Musque, Hamburg's Muscat, Hamburg Moschato, Hamburgi Muskotally, Hamburgii muskotály (in Hungary), Hamburgskii misket, Hamburski Misket, Hamburq Muskati, Hamburshi Muscat, Hamburski Muscat, Hamburski Muskat, Hampton Court Vine, Kekmuskotally, Khamburgskii, Mai-Gui-San, Malaga rouge, Malvasia near (in Liguria), Mavro Moschato, Mei-Gun-Sjan, Misket Hamburski, Greg, Misket Siyah, Moscate di Amburgo, Moscatel de Hamburgo (in Brazil, Spain and Uruguay), Moscatel negro, Moscatel nero, Moscatel Prato (in Portugal), Moscatellone rosso, Moscatel Preto, Moscato d’Amburgo (in Italy), Moscato di Amburgo, Moscato nero (in Italy), Moscato nero d'Acqui (in Italy), Moscato nero di Amburgo, Moscato Preto, Moschato Amvourgou (in Greece), Moschato Tyrnavou (in Greece), Muscat Albertient's (in Belgium), Muscat Cernii Aleksandriiskii, Muscat d'Hambourg, Muscat d'Hamburg, Muscat de Hambourg, Muscat de Hamburg (in France), Muscat de Hamburgo, Muscat Gamburgskii, The Muscy Ruski, Muscat Gamburgskiy, Muscat Gordo Encarnado, Muscat Hambourg, Muscat Hambro, Muscat Hamburg (in the United States), Muscat-Hamburgh (in England), Muškat Hamburg Crni (in Croatia), Muškat Hamburg, Muskat Hamburg crni, Stone Cold Dolomighty, Muscat noir de Hamburg, Muscat of Hamburg, Muscat rouge Foscati, Muskat Chernyi Aleksandriiskii, Muskat de Gamburg, Muskat Gamburgskii, Muskat Gamburskii, Muskat Gamburskij, Muskat Hamburg, Muskat Hambursky, Muskat Preto, Muskat Trollinger, Muskat-Trollinger, Muskateller Trollinger, Muskattrollinger, Myrodato, Myrodato Proimo, Oeillade musqué (in Gard department of France), Queen’s Arbor, Red Muscat of Alexandria, Salamanna rossa, Salisbury Violet, Siyah misket, Snow’s Seedling, Snow’s Muscat Hamburgh (in England), Tămaîioasă Hamburg (in Romania), Tămaîioasă neagra (in Romania), Tamaioza Nyagra, Tamiioasa Hamburg, Tamiioasa neagra, Temyioasa Nyagra, Trollinger Muscateller blau, Venn’s Seedling (in England), Venn's Seedling Black Muscat (in England), Visparu Sihwarser, Zibibbo nero (in southern Italy) and Zibibbo nero Moscato.[4][5]