The white grape variety originates from the Mediterranean region, probably Greece or Italy. Around 200 synonyms testify to the vine's great age and worldwide distribution. The most important, grouped alphabetically by country, are Muscat de Berkain, Muscat de Fandouk, Muscat El Adda (Algeria); Moscatel Bianco, Moscatel Blanco, Moscatel de Alejandría,(Argentina); Gordo, Lexia, Muscat Gordo Blanco, Muscat of Alexandria (Australia); Moscatel de Alejandría (Chile); Cibeben Muskateller, Muscat-Damascener, Weißer Spanier, Weißer Zibeben-Muscateller, Zibeben Muskateller (Germany); Acherfield's Early Muscat, Muscat Bowood (England); Augibi Blanc, Jubi Blanc, Muscat à Gros Grains, Muscat Croquant, Muscat d'Alexandrie Blanc, Muscat de Jerusalem, Muscat de Rome, Muscat d'Espagne, Muscat Grec, Muscat Romain (France), Angliko, Apostoliatiko, Moschato Alexandrias, Moschato Limnou (Greece);
Gerosolimitana Bianca, Gerusalemme, Gordo Zibibo, Gorosolimitana Bianca, Isidori, Moscatel d'Alessandria, Moscatel de Jesus, Moscatel Romano, Moscatellone, Moscato di Pantelleria, Moscato Francese, Moscato Gordo, Paradisia, Seralamanna, Seralamanna Lunga, Seralamanna Toscana, Uva di Pantelleria, Zibibbo, Zibibbo de Pantellaria, Zibibo (Italy); Cibib, Cibib Muskatani Bijeli (Croatia); Moscatel de Setúbal, Moscatel Graúdo (Portugal),
Tamîioasa de Alexandria (Romania); Aleksandrijski Muskat (Russia); Gordo, Moscatel Blanco, Moscatel de Alejandría, Moscatel de Málaga, Moscatel de Chipiona, Moscatel de Grano Gordo, Moscatel de Malaga, Moscatel Flamenco, Moscatel Gordo, Moscatel Gordo Blanco, Moscatel Gordo Morado, Salamanca, Zibibbo Blanco (Spain); Hanepoot, Roode Hanepoot, White Muscat of Alexandria, White Hanepoot (South Africa); Meski, Albillo di Toro, Argelino, Muscat de Raf-Raf (Tunisia), Iskendiriye Misketi (Turkey); Alexandriai Muskotály, Daroczy Musko (Hungary); Malaga (Cyprus).
Descent & offspring
Despite its morphological similarity, it should not be confused with the varieties Moscato di Terracina or Muscat d'Hamburg (with the confusing synonym Black Muscat of Alexandria). According to DNA analyses last carried out in 2018, the variety originates from a presumably natural cross between Axina de Tres Bias alias Heftakilo (red) x Muscat Blanc (white). Colour mutations are Muscat d'Alexandrie Red (Red Hanepoot in South Africa and Flame Muscat in California) and Black Muscat of Alexandria (known in England...
