MUSCAT BLANC à PETITS GRAINS

(Redirected from White Muscat)
'Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains' is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of ''Vitis vinifera''. Its name comes from its characteristic small berry size and tight clusters. It is known under a variety of local names such as ''Muscat Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Frontignan, Moscato Bianco, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat d'Alsace, Muskateller, Muscatel de Grano Menudo, Moscatel Rosé'' and ''Sárgamuskotály ''.
While technically a white grape, there are strains of ''Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains'' vines that produce berries that are pink or reddish brown. The same vine could potentially produce berries of one color one year and a different color the next. [1] These strains are more prevalent in Australia, where the grape is also known as ''Frontignac'' and ''Brown Muscat''. South Africa's Muskadel strain tends to show the same darker characteristics. [2]

Contents
Uses
Viticulture
History
References

Uses


In France, the grape is used as a blending grape with Grenache Blanc and Muscat of Alexandria in ''vins doux naturels'' wines from the Frontignan area such as ''Banyuls, Côtes d'Agly, Grand Roussillon, Rivesaltes and St-Jean de Minervois''. It is the primary grape in the Rhône wine ''Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise'' and a blending grape with Clairette in the recherché sparkling wine ''Clairette de Die'' (brand label ''Tradition''). [3] In Alsace, it is known for the highly aromatic and dry wines that it produce. [4]
In Italy, the grape is the most widely planted member of the Muscat family and is most commonly known as ''Moscato Bianco''. It is the oldest known variety grown in Piedmont and is the primary component of Asti (wine) sparkling Spumante wine and Moscato d'Asti. It is also commonly used for fortified dessert wines as well as the semi-sparkling ''Frizzante''. [3] The South-African dessert wine Constantia is produced from ''Muscat de Frontignan''.

Viticulture


Its viticultural characteristics makes it prone to producing low yields and a susceptibility to mildew and the grape berry moth. [6] It also tends to fall victim to leaf roll, odium and grey rot and requires a long growing season as it tends to bud early and ripen late. [7]

History


''Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains'' is considered one of the oldest grape varieties still in existence. Ampelographers have identified the grape with the ''Anathelicon moschaton'' grape used by the Ancient Greeks and the ''Apiane'' vines planted by the Romans (so named because of the fondness that insects, such as bees (Latin ''apis''), have for devouring the flesh of the grapes). It was probably first introduced to France by the Greeks through the trading port at Marseille and later spread to the Narbonne region by Romans in their conquest of Gaul. It was a chief export of Frontignan by the time of Charlemagne and plantings were recorded in Germany by the 12th century. It became a popular planting in Alsace by the 16th century. [8]

References


1. Oz Clarke & M. Rand ''Encyclopedia of Grapes'' pg 146 Webster International Publishers ISBN 0151007144
2. J. Robinson ''Vines Grapes & Wines'' pg 183 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996
3.
4. K. MacNeil ''The Wine Bible'' pg 285 Workman Publishing 2001 ISBN 1563054345
5.
6. J. Robinson ''Vines Grapes & Wines'' pg 185 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996
7. Oz Clarke & M. Rand ''Encyclopedia of Grapes'' pg 148 Webster International Publishers ISBN 0151007144
8. Oz Clarke & M. Rand ''Encyclopedia of Grapes'' pg 147 Webster International Publishers ISBN 0151007144


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