Aleatico is a red wine grape. Ampelographers suspect that Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains may be a mutation of the Aleatico cultivar. Aleatico is notable for being the primary grape in the cult wine Aleatico di Portoferraio made in Elba. It is grown most commonly in the Puglia and Lazio region of Italy. In Chile it is known as Red Moscatel. The grape has also been cultivated as Mudgee in New South Wales and in California.
Aleatico is often used to produce dessert-style wines. The grapes may be dried or the wines could be produced fortified in a Liquoroso style. The wines are typically aged at least 6 months prior to release with Italian wines labeled as Liquoroso Riserva requiring three years of aging, with at least 2 of those years in wood barrels.
Aleatico wines are characterized by their sweet aromas of roses (a trait they share with Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains). Other aroma notes common to Aleatico include various berry fruits and lychees. Aleatico wines tend to have high alcohol content that is balanced by the grape’s acidity.