Muscat of Alexandria is a
white wine grape that is a member of the
Muscat family of
Vitis vinifera. It is considered an "ancient vine", and wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence. While today it is mostly cultivated as a table grape or for
raisin production, it is still an important grape in the
Australian and
South African wine industry. It is also cultivated very heavily on the island of
Samos, in the North Eastern
Aegean region of
Greece, and reputedly
Cleopatra drank muscat wine from there. It is also thought to rival the French
Beaume de Venise in its most refined form. In
Italy wine is made from the grape on the island of
Pantelleria, and in
Spain, the grape is used for wine around
Málaga,
Alicante,
Valencia, and the
Canary Islands. The grape originated in
North Africa, and the name is probably derived from its association with
Ancient Egyptians who used the grape for wine making. It is also a table grape used for eating and raisins.