Moscato Giallo

 

Synonym: Moscat, Moscatel, Moscato Sirio, Moscato Cipro, Goldmuskateller.

 

Commonly mistaken for: Moscato bianco, Moscato di Cannelli, Moscato d’Arquà, Moscato dei Colli, Moscato fior d’arancio.

                                                                    

Origin: It’s origins are probably Greek, it has been famous since the times of the Romans. This variety is one of the less common of the big “family” called “Moscati”. The Moscato grapes were termed Apiciae by Catone or Apianae by Columbella and Pliny, both Latin words that mean bee; in fact they were the varieties particularly favoured by bees thanks to their sweet aroma. Only since the Renaissance period it has taken the name of Moscato from the musky perfume, very common in that period. According to Calò A. and others (2001) the Moscato Giallo (Yellow Muscat) probably arrived in Italy during the Middle Age brought by the Venetian merchants. It is grown mainly in the Friuli region and the Trentino Alto Adige region; in Sicily it is commonly mistaken for Moscato bianco; this last, together with the Moscato di Alessandria (Muscat of Alexandria), are more famous and easy to find.

 

Agronomic and environmental aspects: It has a preference for calcareous and medium friable soils, rich in rock fragments. It grows well in hilly regions. The vine is suitable for a variety of training systems and pruning techniques. In the Trentino region wide training system (pergola) and cane pruning is used, while in Emilia region (and Colli Euganei) vertical shoot positioned (VSP) systems with spur pruning is used.

 

Diseases, pests and disorders: Shows a good resistance to botrytis; medium resistance to downy and powdery mildew. Susceptible to phomopsis cane, leaf spot and iron deficiency. It can show “hen and chicken” if the vines have to mush vigour.

 

Description:

Growing Tip: fully open, medium cottony, of whitish green colour with coppered edges.       

Leaf: medium surface area, circular, 3-lobed or orbicular. Has a U or V-shaped petiolar sinus, lateral sinuses V-U shaped. The profile is slightly undulating with revolute lobes. The upper surface is without hairs, of light green colour.

Bunch: medium-large or large, of pyramidal form, long, with one or two wings, loose density of berries.   

Berry: of medium dimensions, round or slightly oblate; tick skin, strongly covered by bloom, of a uniform golden yellow colour. The flesh has a characteristic muscat flavour.

 

Vegetation growth habit:

erect

Vigour:

high

Average bunch weight:

medium (180-250 g.)

Average bunches per shoot:

1 or 2

 

Growth Stages:

Time of budburst:

medium

Time of flowering:

medium   

Time of veraison:

medium   

Time of harvest:

early or medium-early  

 

Available Clones:

-          VCR 5:Click here to see growth stage photos Clone selected in the Friuli region; it is characterized by high vigour and productivity, big and long bunches with loose density of berries.

 

Maturity results:

Vintage 2005

VCR 5

30/01/05

9/02/05

15/02/05

23/02/05

28/02/05

Baumè

8.50

10.00

10.20

10.60

11.10

pH

3.23

3.45

3.48

3.51

3.58

T.A.

7.35

5.40

5.70

4.80

4.43

 

Wine characteristics:

Wine is yellow in colour, with golden hues, with an intense and persistent musky perfume. Aromatic and prolonged flavour and with a good structure when it is made as a dessert wine. If left without residual sugars it loses big part of its elegance and varietal aromas. Moscato Giallo is an important variety for DOC Alto Adige, Trentino, Colli Euganei, Isonzo.