Setúbal DOC facts for kids
Moscatel de Setúbal is a special kind of sweet wine from Portugal. It is made in the area around the city of Setúbal, which is on the Península de Setúbal. This region is famous for its fortified Muscat wines, which are known as Moscatel de Setúbal.
A fortified wine has a small amount of grape spirit added to it during its making. This process helps the wine last longer and gives it a unique taste.
People believe that José Maria da Fonseca, who started the José Maria da Fonseca company in 1834, created this style of wine. His company is one of the oldest wine companies in Portugal. Today, the J.M. Fonseca company still plays a very big role in making Moscatel de Setúbal.
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How Moscatel de Setúbal is Made
Moscatel de Setúbal wines are aged in wooden barrels. This is similar to how Port wine is made. They stay in these barrels until they are put into bottles.
Different Styles of Wine
These wines can be made in a few ways:
- Single Year Wines: Some wines are made using grapes from just one harvest year. This is called a "vintage" wine.
- Blended Wines: Other wines are a mix of grapes from different harvest years. This is called a "non-vintage" style.
How the Taste Changes
When Moscatel de Setúbal wines are young, usually up to 5 or 6 years old, they taste fresh and fruity. They often have strong notes of apricot. As the wines get older, their color becomes darker. Their flavors also change, becoming more like raisin, caramel, and nuts.
Grapes Used in Moscatel de Setúbal
The rules for making Moscatel de Setúbal say that the wine must mostly be made from two main types of grapes:
- Muscat of Alexandria
- Moscatel Roxo
However, winemakers can also add up to 30% of other grape types to the blend. Some of these other grapes include:
- Arinto
- Boais
- Diagalves
- Fernao Pires
- Malvasia
- Olho de Lebre
- Rabo de Ovelha
- Roupeiro
- Talia
- Tamarez
- Vital
