3d Mediterranean meeting for Muscat

ORIGIN
Mediterranean Basin

SIMILAR VARIETIES
Panse musquée, Muscat d’Espagne, Muscat à gros grains, Raisins de Malaga (France) ; Moscatel
Gordo, Moscatel de Espana, Moscatel de Chipiona, Moscatel de Malaga, Salamanna (Spain) ;
Zibibbo or Moscatel Romano (Italy) ; White Hanepoot (South Africa) ; Zibbib (North Africa) ; Meski (Tunisia)


DESCRIPTION
Buds are downy with a crimson edge. Young, bronze coloured, arachnoid leaves. Adult
leaves are small with five lobes with small angular serrations. Branches are ribbed, at the top,
light green, with red streaks in the sun. Bunches are medium-sized, loose and cylindrical.
Grapes are fat, oval, fleshy and amber coloured grapes with a thinnish skin and an intense
musky odour.


GROWING CONDITIONS AND CULTIVATION
Not a very vigorous variety with a trailing habit, generally pruned in a goblet shape. Adapts to hot,
sunny and dry regions. Late developing variety which needs a lot of heat to reach a good maturity.
Very drought resistant which means it can be grown in the driest soils. Prone to mildew, oidium
and vulnerable to attacks of mites. Aromatic profile: rich in geraniol and poor in nerol. Although
used in wine-making, it’s also a good grape for eating.


ORGANOLEPTIC PROFILE
A variety which produces wines with strong, intense aromas with floral notes and hints of white
and yellow-fleshed fruits.

ENTAV - INRA agreed clones: 308, 635, 866, 867, 979


About 3000 hectares of Muscat d’Alexandrie are grown in France, mainly in Roussillon and Aude
for making Muscat de Rivesaltes. Very widespread in Spain (nearly 40,000 hectares for wine and
eating). It can also be found in South Africa, Australia, California and Chile.