{{Short description|Variety of grape}} {{Infobox grape variety | name = Morio Muscat | color = Blanc | image = Morio-Muskat.jpg | caption = Morio Muscat in Rheingau, Germany | species = ''Vitis vinifera'' | also_called = Morio-Muskat | origin = Palatinate, Germany | hazards = | regions = Germany | notable_wines = }}
'''Morio Muscat''' (also known as ''Morio-Muskat'') is a white wine grape that was created by viticulturalist Peter Moriot at the Geilweilerhof Institute for Grape Breeding in the Palatinate in 1928. He claimed to have crossed the varieties Silvaner and Pinot blanc, but based on the variety's properties it has been speculated that he actually crossed Silvaner and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.<ref>[https://www.wein-plus.eu/en/Morio-Muskat_3.0.1715.html Wein-Plus Glossar: Morio-Muskat], accessed on March 6, 2013.</ref><ref name="VIVC"/> But so far this speculation has yet to be conclusively proven. The grape is highly aromatic with a "grapey" characteristic reminiscent of Muscat grape varieties.<ref name="Oxford p 453">J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition, p. 453. Oxford University Press 2006 {{ISBN|0-19-860990-6}}.</ref> The grape is rarely used for varietal wines because it requires a high level of ripeness to avoid producing wine with a "mousey" flavor, a coarse texture and overabundance of acidity.<ref name="Robinson p 250">Jancis Robinson ''Vines, Grapes & Wine'', p. 250. Octopus Publishing 1986 {{ISBN|978-1-85732-999-5}}.</ref>
==Origins== Viticulturalist Peter Morio created this grape variety from, what was reported as, Silvaner and Weissburgunder (Pinot blanc) as a potential blending partner for Müller-Thurgau and component in Liebfraumilch. Despite being the offspring of two grape varieties (Silvaner & Pinot blanc) that are not very aromatic, the Morio Muscat is a very aromatic grape variety with aromas more closely aligned with the Muscat family.<ref name="Oxford p 453"/>
==Wine regions== Morio Muscat remains the most popular "Muscat" in Germany, despite the possibility that the grape might not be a member of the Muscat family.<ref name="Oxford p 453"/> The grape was used extensively in Germany in the 1970s as a blending companion to Müller-Thurgau to enhance the aroma of the latter, but has been in steep decline in recent years. In 2006 it was cultivated on {{convert|541|ha|acre}} of vineyard in Germany,<ref name="Statistics 07-08">[http://www.deutscheweine.de/icc/Internet-DE/med/1a6/1a64f607-a3e5-5117-3d28-952196117f51,11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111.pdf German Wine Institute: German Wine Statistics 2007-2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920194632/http://www.deutscheweine.de/icc/Internet-DE/med/1a6/1a64f607-a3e5-5117-3d28-952196117f51,11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111.pdf |date=2008-09-20}}.</ref> down from {{convert|1167|ha|acre}} in 1999.<ref name="Statistics 04-05">[http://www.deutscheweine.de/icc/Internet-DE/med/00f/00f51f4e-0098-401b-e592-6461d7937aae,11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111.pdf German Wine Institute: German Wine Statistics 2004-2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090920130040/http://www.deutscheweine.de/icc/Internet-DE/med/00f/00f51f4e-0098-401b-e592-6461d7937aae,11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111.pdf |date=2009-09-20}}.</ref>
At its peak popularity, the grape was widely planted in the German wine regions of Palatinate and Rheinhessen.<ref name="Oxford p 453"/> Outside of Germany, there are small plantings in South Africa and Canada.<ref name="Clarke p 139">Oz Clarke ''Encyclopedia of Grapes'', p. 139. Harcourt Books 2001 {{ISBN|0-15-100714-4}}.</ref>
==Viticulture== Morio Muscat has the potential to be a varietal wine but require ideal vineyard locations, similar to what would normally be planted with Silvaner, and has to be harvested at a point where its naturally low sugar levels and medium to high acidity are not out of balance. Common viticultural hazards include a sensitivity to rot with the grape often needing at least an extra week to ripen after Müller-Thurgau has been harvested.<ref name="Oxford p 453"/> It also has some sensitivity to downy mildew and oidium.<ref name="Clarke p 139"/>
== Synonyms == The only synonyms of Morio Muscat, other than the alternative spelling Muscat or Muskat, is its breeding code I-28-30 or Geilweilerhof I-28-30.<ref name="VIVC">[http://www.vivc.de/datasheet/dataResult.php?data=7996 Morio Muskat], Vitis International Variety Catalogue, accessed 3 December 2010.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:White wine grape varieties