The origins of viticulture go back centuries. According to the latest archaeological data, winemaking originates in the Middle East about 8 thousand years ago. Now this industry is one of the leading for many countries with a warm climate. What can we say about the countless varieties that grapes have acquired. Muscat is heard by many. Meanwhile, this is not a separate hybrid, but a whole group of cultivated grape varieties.
The berries of this variety group are appreciated for their specific musky aroma and are used both fresh and for wine production. Nutmegs are grown in Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Crimea, Moldova, etc. The most widely used are muscat grapes white (frankincense), Hamburg, black, pink, Hungarian, and Alexandrian. Let us dwell on each of them in more detail.
Nutmeg white
Muscat is white, or frankincense is known to winemakers also under the name of small-berry, Lunel, Frontinyansky, Tamyanka. This is one of the oldest varieties, most likely originating from Egypt, Syria or Arabia. Currently, it is widely distributed in France, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria and the United States.
This is a mid-early grape variety. White Muscat matures in approximately 140 days. The plant is medium-sized, the clusters formed on it have a mass of 100 to 450 g and a size of 13-17 cm by 10 cm, conical shape. Not too large berries (up to 1.5 cm in diameter and weighing about 4 g) very densely "sit" on the hands. Grapes are characterized by the ability to high accumulation of sugars in fruits (18-25%). It is a good technical grade with a distinctive nutmeg taste and aroma.
Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting susceptibility to peeling, demanding on growing conditions, low resistance to frost and disease. Zoned varieties are gradually being developed, for example, white muscatel Shatilova (Siberian breeding) grows well in the Urals and Siberia.
Pink Muscat Grapes: Variety Description
A relatively young grape variety also known as Muscat Rouge de Frontignan, Red, Moscato Rosso di Madera, etc. It is a variation of white and appeared supposedly several centuries ago in southwestern Europe. Now it is cultivated in almost all wine-making countries, especially in France, Portugal, Italy, Armenia.
A bunch of medium-sized Pink Muscat is 14-18 cm long and 7-10 cm wide. It has a conical-cylindrical shape. Berries with a length of 1-1.8 cm and a width of 1-1.7 cm are very dense, round, painted dark red, have a strong waxy coating and a pronounced muscat aroma.
Muscat pink grapes (photo above) are characterized by instability to mildew and high sensitivity to oidium or, in other words, real powdery mildew. Winter hardiness is low, but much higher adaptability to various soil conditions and moisture levels compared to the previous variety.
Black muscat
Black muscat is commonly known as Kalyaba or Kayyaba. The exact history of its origin is not known, the first mention of the variety dates back to the 19th century. Grapes prefer a warm climate and are most common on the slopes of the South of France, as well as in Crimea.
Berry clusters are medium in size (up to 15 cm in length), but at the same time they have an impressive mass due to the dense arrangement of fruits (up to 800 g). Berries grow to 1.9 cm in diameter. They have a rounded shape, dense skin, painted in the stage of maturity in dark blue and covered with a small layer of wax coating. Berries are characterized by juiciness, sweetness and pronounced aroma. Muscat black grapes are used to make raisins because of the high sugar content.
The variety is highly resistant to various rot and leaf diseases, but is sensitive to leaflet. It is sensitive to cold, has a low resistance to frost, is demanding on the soil and the level of moisture in it.
Hamburger Muscat
Hamburg nutmeg is a universal table variety, widely used in Hungary, France, Tunisia, Greece and Romania. In addition, it is found in the fields of the USA, Argentina and some other countries. The clusters of grapes are quite large: they reach 18–20 cm in length and 11–17 cm in width. The brush has a conical shape, is loose, branched, the leg is medium grassy green. The berries are large, as a rule, 1.2-2.6 cm long and 1.1-1.7 cm in diameter, round or oval, of a saturated violet-blue color with a dense wax coating. The mass of one bunch is on average 170-260 g. Disease resistance is very low, thermophilic, demanding on soil and moisture.
Hungarian Muscat Grapes
Muscat Hungarian is also known under the names Hrazdrob, Krokan, Vanilla. This is a universal variety of folk selection, mid-early (ripens by the end of September). Plants are characterized by high growth strength, good ripening of shoots, stable yield indicators (medium to high). Bunches of medium size and density, conical shape. The berries are rounded greenish-yellow in color with brown “tan”, thick skin, dense and crisp pulp. Hungarian nutmeg is very sensitive to soil and air humidity. With excess water, the berries quickly mold or crack. The variety is used to make wines and juices with a characteristic muscat aroma.
Muscat of Alexandria
Alexandrian muscat grapes were grown in ancient Arabia, now the variety is widespread in Spain, Greece, Italy, and in the south of France. A universal table grape that forms large loose clusters (15-20 cm long, 10-13 cm wide) weighing up to 230-240 g. Large berries have an oval shape, yellow color (with incomplete ripeness with a green tint) and a matte surface with spots of brown tan. The pulp of the fruit is fleshy, dense and juicy with a strongly pronounced muscat aroma.
The variety is characterized by very low winter hardiness and resistance to diseases, exactingness to soils. Alexandrian muscat grows best on fertile and moderately moist soils. It is universal in purpose, it is used for making wines, compotes, preserves, juices, raisins.
Nutmeg wines
To people far from viticulture, when mentioning wine, most often the first to come to mind is nutmeg. Grapes, the description of which we presented above - this is only part of a rich variety. In popularity, Muscat is only overtaken by Isabella.
To know its rich and vibrant taste is not difficult, it is determined immediately. Muscat is the most fully and strongly manifested in wines. One of the most famous nutmeg drinks is Asti. White sparkling wine is produced in southern Piedmont (Italy). It is made exclusively from White Muscat, the oldest variety in the region.
However, several countries can brag of their famous magnificent muscat wines at once. In France, it is Bom de Venise (white, fortified), Mirval, Lunel, Frontignan, Cap Cors (from Corsica). Sunny Italy offers wine lovers a yellow-gold "Moscato Djallo" or "Goldmuscateller", Spain - "Moscatel" (especially popular Malaga), USA - Orange muscat, Greece - Samos, Crimea - the famous Massandra.