Morio Muskat

General: The white "Palatinate" variety was crossed in 1928 by Peter Morio at the Institute for Vine Breeding Geilweilerhof in Siebeldingen. The breeder gave Silvaner and Weißburgunder as parents. A DNA analysis disproved this and determined Silvaner and Gelber Muskateller to be a cross, which corresponds to the distinct muscat note of the variety. Morio-Muskat is native to the southern German wine-growing regions, sporadically and to a lesser extent also in Switzerland, Austria, South Africa and Canada. As a mass producer in weaker sites, it has a low cultivation value, which is why the area planted with it has been declining for some years. However, pure Morio-Muskat can be used to produce tangy, aroma-elegant white wines in medium sites.
Cluster: The grapes are medium-sized, compact, slightly shouldered to cylindrical. The round, medium-sized berries are green-yellow with a typical thin skin.
Wine: In good years and when fully ripe, the wines are golden yellow with a typical muscat tone that is not over-perfumed. On the palate, these wines are full-bodied with tangy acidity.
Cultivation: The variety prefers deep, nutrient-rich soils. The clones 15 and 23 of the newer generation are more moderate in yields and show very appealing basic qualities in good locations.