Muscat Grapes
The Muscat grape is thought to be the world’s oldest known grape variety. Its recorded history of human cultivation goes back to the Greeks and possibly much earlier. It is probably the forebear of all the grape varieties known today. At present, there are hundreds of varieties and hybrids of Muscat grapes available. The grape is characterized by an intensely aromatic bouquet and a musky, fruity (mandarin orange, apricot, peach), honeyed flavor.
Muscat grapes, in one form or another, are grown in every important wine producing country in the world. The grapes are used as table grapes, raisins and for wine production.
Muscat is the only wine grape that produces wine that actually tastes like the grape itself. When made as a varietal, Muscat wine can range from pale, dry white wines to sweetish playful sparkling wines to golden-yellow perfumed dessert wines to fortified dark, mahogany colored treasures. Muscat flavors will vary according to the region where they are made, the wine making techniques, and the variety of Muscat grape used. The better the Muscat, the more depth and length it will show.
In addition to producing outstanding varietal wines, Muscat grapes are also used extensively in the production of a wide range of blended wines.
MUSCAT HYBRIDS USED FOR WINE
Diamond Muscat
A complex hybrid that has Muscat of Alexandria in its lineage.
Early Muscat
Bred at the University of California at Davis. A cross between Muscat Hamburg and Queen of the Vineyard. In the cool climate of the Pacific Northwest it is makes a nice Muscat wine.
Bailey A
Grown in Japan for the production of Muscat wine
New York Muscat
A moderately winter hardy white wine grape developed in Geneva, New York. A cross of Muscat Hamburg and Ontario.
Grown in New York State, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Missouri, Quebec
Sovereign Opal
Developed by Agriculture Canada research station in Summerland, British Columbia and first released in 1976. It is a cross between Marechal Foch and Golden Muscat. To date, Calona Vineyards in British Columbia is the only winery making wine from the grape.
Symphony Grape
The Symphony grape is one of dozens of new grapes bred by Dr. Harold Olmo, Professor Emeritus of the University of California, Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. It is a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris. It is used for wine production in California and Hawaii.
Torrontes Grape
DNA profiling has shown that Torrontes is a result of the crossing of Muscat of Alexandria and Mission (Criolla Chica). Torrontes is the predominant white wine grape in
Argentina. Aromas of the wine exhibit peach pit, pear, flowers and oranges. On the palate the taste is dry with a pleasing ,crispness and exciting floral and fruit flavors,
Valvin Muscat
A mid season white wine grape. Developed in New York State at Cornell. Available since 1990? 2006?. A complex cross involving Muscat de Moulin and Muscat Ottonel
MUSCAT LIKE GRAPES
There are a few grapes that are not related to true Muscats but that exhibit Muscat-like tastes and aromas ( or the names of some are spelled similarly).
Malvasia
Malvasia is an ancient grape of Greek origin and like Muscat has been used to make rich, full-bodied, aromatic dessert wines (with a musky taste) in the Mediterranean region.
Morio Muscat
ls also known as Morio Muskat. This is a white grape hybrid that was created by Peter Morio in the 1960s by crossing Silvaner and Pinot Blanc. The result was an aromatic grape used for blending, that was highly popular in Germany particularly in the Pfalz and Rheinhessen areas in the late 1970s. If the grape is fully ripe it can produce a relatively good varietal wine with a Muscat-like bouquet and flavour.
Moscophilero
A Greek variety of grape (pink-skinned) used to make strongly perfumed , spicy white wine. Jancis Robinson states that “There are strong flavor similarities with fine Muscat but the origins of this distinct vine variety are as yet obscure.” (Oxford companion to Wine).
Muscadine
The Muscadine grape family has no relation to the Muscat grape family. The grape is of native American origin, found in the southeastern United States. Muscadine grapes have a strong, musky flavour and range in color from deep purple to bronze. The Scuppernong grape (bronze colored) has long been used to make wine in the South.
Muscadelle
This grape is one of the three grapes used in France to make Sauternes (the other two are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon) and other sweet and dry white wines in Bordeaux and Bergerac. The grape originated in Bordeaux. Although it shares a grapey aroma with Muscat, there is no relationship between the two grapes. It is used primarily in blends, adding a youthful fruitiness to the mix.
Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne)
Muscadet is a white wine grape grown in France (Loire). It produces bone-dry, crisp, neutral tasting wine with a slight carbon dioxide prickle that pairs it well with seafood. There are four ACs for Muscadet:: Muscadet, Muscadet de Sevre et Maine, Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu, Muscadet des Coteaux de la Loire.
Muscardin
Muscardin is a light red grape variety used in Chateauneuf du Pape.
MUSCAT TABLE GRAPES
In addition to making delightful wines that taste of the grape itself, Muscat grapes have for centuries been enjoyed as table grapes (and as raisin grapes).
All of the major Muscat grapes used in wine making are also eaten as table grapes and new varieties of Muscat flavored table grapes are continually being developed.
Many of the older varieties of Muscat grapes are seeded and currently some consumers appear to be rejecting seeded table grapes in favor of the seedless variety.
Some Muscat Table Grapes Include:
Black Muscat
Popular medium sized dark grape, very sweet in flavour. Early to mid season.
Cannon Hall Muscat
A variety called Canon Hall Muscat has been grown as table grape in Western Australia for more than 50 years and is exported under that name . The grape was in fact raised at Cannon Hall, the home of the Stanhope family near Barnsley in Yorkshire, from seed brought from Greece in 1813. Cannon Hall was sold to the Barnsley Corporation in 1954 and is now a museum. The original vine is still maintained because of its historic interest, being now more than 160 years old. In August 1975 a sample of leaves and fruit from the vine was imported to Australia for examination. There seems to be no reason to doubt the origin of the Cannon Hall Muscat vine given by the Stanhope family, and no justification for using its name to refer to tetraploid sports of Muscat of Alexandria having no connection with the original vine. Apart from the mis-spelling of Cannon, the variety grown in Western Australia appears to be correctly named. This grape is also grown in Japan.
(Information from: https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/VITIS/article/view/7009) (2019)
Delight
Large crisp seedless dark greenish yellow fruits with delicate Muscat flavor hang in big loose clusters. Also a raisin grape.
Golden Muscat
Produces very large clusters of large, oval, amber berries. Very large and juicy seeded fruit has a mixture of citrus and Muscat flavor.
Italia
The skin is firm, and the pulp fleshy, with a mild Muscat flavour when ripe. Bunches are medium to large, conical and well filled.
Canelli
Another name for Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains. The grape exhibits a pronounced sweet floral aroma.
Muscat Hamburg
The berries are blue-black, medium to large, oval shaped and seeded. They have a firm berry skin, soft and juicy pulp with a strong Muscat flavour.
Muscat of Alexandria
Large round seeded green to amber fruit is renowned for its classic sweet Muscat flavor. Also used for raisins. Late midseason.
Muscat Ottonel
Unlike the other major Muscats, this grape can be grown in relatively cold latitudes.
New York Muscat
A reddish-blue grape with a rich muscat-labrusca flavor. The vines are moderately vigorous and produce medium-sized, loosely filled clusters.
Pearl of Csaba
(Csabagyöngye in Hungarian) is a white variety of grape. It was created in 1904 by the Hungarian viticulturalist Adolf Stark, presumably by crossing Madeleine Angevine × Muscat Courtillier (= Muscat Précoce de Saumur).[1] Some sources instead state the parent varieties as Bronner x Muscat Ottonel, but this is seen as less likely. The variety’s name was taken from the city Békéscsaba, which is also called Csaba for short.(Information from Wikipedia)
Perlette
Berries are golden yellow, small to medium in size, round and seedless. They have firm skin, soft and juicy pulp and a mild muscat flavour.
Shine Muscat
Shine Muscat is a crispy, fragrant seedless green table grape variety developed in Japan in the late 1980s and then commercialized there in the early 2000s.They have large, yellow-green or purple berries and crisp, candy-like, seedless flesh with floral muscat overtines. The grape has moved to the Chinese market and now is also being cultivated in China. Another name for it in China is Sunshine Rose.
Venus
Large fruit. Blue-black seedless grape. Sweet fruit flavor with just a suggestion of Muscat. Also a wine grape.