Pink Muscat grapes: variety description, photos, reviews

The Muscat pink grape is one of the preferred grape varieties in Italy, a country with developed winemaking, whose residents know a lot about good wine. It is valued not only for its unique taste characteristics and nutmeg aroma, but also for its unique rich color.

Historical reference

Pink Muscat grape is one of the subspecies of white Muscat. Information about it as a separate variety appeared hundreds of years ago. This variety has long been known and valued by winegrowers in Europe, and is grown by both professionals and amateurs.

There is no exact information about the place of origin of Pink Muscat. However, its homeland is most likely in the southwest of Europe - Italy, Spain, or France.

It is now difficult to say whether the variety is the result of selection or random mutations; too much time has passed since its appearance. However, pink Muscat is currently the basis for the development of other hybrids and grape varieties due to its unique taste characteristics.

Now it is successfully grown in the vineyards of Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. This species grows in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. The domestic Muscat rose vineyards of the Crimea and the Black Sea coast are widely known.

Appearance of grapes

It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally - since there is not one subspecies , but many, differing both in external characteristics and in taste.
The berries are usually reddish or pink, but they are also light green, covered with pink, uneven spots.

They can be cone-shaped, oval, elongated or round. The shoots are light green or reddish in color, pubescent. The leaves range from pointed to rounded, with pronounced “lobes”.

The flowers are bisexual. The skin is thick or medium thickness. The vine is deep brown in color, and the bushes are usually vigorous.

Description of the variety

The Muscat rose grape variety is grown in many countries specializing in the production of elegant wines. This hybrid is a frequent visitor to the home vineyards of amateur gardeners. Pink nutmeg is prized for its unique taste, but it is not easy to grow. The variety is very whimsical and reacts to changes in temperature and humidity, and is also not highly resistant to fungal diseases and pests.

Appearance

The description of the Muscat pink grape variety should begin with its distinctive external characteristics. In appearance, the hybrid is in many ways similar to its brother, Muscat white. In many ways, but not in all.

The vine has an average growth rate. The bushes are low. Before ripening, the shoots are green, with a pinkish crown, with a slight edge. During the ripening period, their color will change to brown, and the nodules on them will darken.

The leaves of pink and white are almost identical - five-lobed, large in size, green in color, with a small edge on the back side. Their growth is directed downward, but due to the curved crown, they stick out upward.

The clusters are cylindrical or conical in shape, medium in size, about 17 cm long, 10 cm in diameter. The filling of the clusters is medium, loose. Average weight is about 200 grams.

The berries of pink nutmeg are round in shape, slightly larger than those of its white counterpart. The size reaches 18 mm. After ripening they turn dark red. The pulp of the grapes is tender and juicy. The peel is edible, not very dense, with a slight waxy coating. The seeds are medium-sized, up to four in each berry.

Taste

The description of the taste of Muscat pink grapes is similar to the description of the taste of all Muscat varieties. They have recognizable muscat notes, which are valued in the production of white and red wines.

The tasting rating of this variety on a ten-point scale is a decent 8.2. Ripe grapes have a high sugar content - 35%.

On a note! Fruits left on the bushes will be able to obtain more sugar content, however, in the event of unexpected autumn frosts, the harvest may be lost due to the low resistance of the variety to low temperatures.

Properties of fruits

Muscat pink grapes are consumed both fresh and in the form of juices, jams, and of course, red wine.

An impressive set of microelements, as well as folic acid, vitamins K, P, iron, phosphorus and calcium contained in nutmeg fruits, have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.

The fruits of grapes are used as a tonic, immunomodulatory, and general tonic. They normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and restore after illness.

On a note! Grapevine leaves contain a large amount of vitamin C. They are used externally as a wound-healing and skin-regenerating agent; a decoction of grape leaves is used to treat sore throats.

Full-blooded grapes for drinks and desserts - Pink variety

, pink grapes
are the most popular .
Italian winegrowers say that you should taste it first with your eyes and then with your taste. Indeed, the full-blooded, plump, large reddish and pink berries are pleasing to the eye; they are extremely tasty and healthy both in their natural form and in drinks and desserts. “Pink” is a fairly early grape variety. Description and photo of the variety are further in the article.

Characteristics

In order to obtain maximum productivity and high yield, it is necessary to provide proper care for the vine. And this is easier to do if you know the main characteristics and properties of Pink Nutmeg.

Ripening period, yield

Pink Muscat grapes are an early ripening variety. The growing season (the time from the swelling of the buds to the full ripening of the fruit) is about 130 days: from mid-April to the second half of September. Under favorable conditions in the growing region, Muscat reaches maturity in mid-September.

The yield indicators of this variety are average - about 60-80 c/ha.

For pink nutmeg to fully ripen, an average temperature of +290C is required. The sugar content of the fruit depends on the warmth of the environment. In regions with a warm climate (Crimea, Portugal, Italy, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan) this figure is higher than in more northern regions (France, central Russia, the Urals).

Cultural sustainability

Characteristics of Muscat pink grapes would be incomplete without a description of the variety's resistance indicators.

This hybrid cannot boast of high frost resistance. When the temperature drops below 20-220C, the crop will die. Therefore, shelter for the winter is a prerequisite for the preservation of the variety.

On a note! Given the low frost resistance, it is important to preserve the vine even in the spring, when it would seem that the frosts are behind. Returning spring frosts can cause a lot of trouble. Therefore, when predicting a drop in temperature, the vine should be covered with multilayer agrofibre.

This variety is also not resistant to drought. Lack of moisture has a detrimental effect not only on the development of the plant and its vulnerability to pests, but can also lead to its death. Over-wetting the soil should also be avoided. As a result, various fungal diseases can develop.

Pests and diseases

Pink nutmeg requires mandatory preventive treatment against diseases and pests, since its resistance to both leaves much to be desired.

Fungal diseases, such as oidium and mildew, easily infect the muscat vine, after which a good harvest cannot be expected.

On a note! It is much more effective to prevent fungal diseases using preventive treatments than to treat them. In the second case, we are not even talking about a good harvest, but about the safety of the entire plant.

Oidium can harm more than 30% of all bushes, mildew - up to 40%.

Of the pests, the greatest danger to rose nutmeg is phylloxera and cluster budworm. These parasites can destroy the entire vineyard.

The only method of preventing phylloxera damage to a vine is to plant seedlings on phylloxera-resistant rootstock.

Application of fruits

According to the description, pink Muscat grapes have a high sugar accumulation rate. As a result, the main use of this variety is liqueur Muscat wines.

Pink Muscat is the basis for the preparation of elegant, high-quality wines with a unique aroma and rich, recognizable taste.

In addition, pink Muscat is used in the form of desserts - jams, preserves, marshmallows, and is used in the production of confectionery products.

Planting and care

Young shoots of grapes
Seedlings are best purchased in the autumn from special nurseries. Seedlings planted in the fall begin to grow actively in the spring and outstrip the plants planted in the spring. Vegetating seedlings are suitable for planting in spring. The growth of the plant should be 25 centimeters with a thickness of 5 millimeters. The seedling has several formed bright green leaves and roots.

The plant is planted in mid-April to early May or in the fall, from late September to early October.

The close passage of groundwater in the planting area is unacceptable. The place should be sheltered from the wind and well lit. Elevation is best suited for this purpose. The bush can be planted next to buildings, gazebos, at a distance of 0.5 meters from them, and near trees and bushes at a distance of 3 meters.

The yield of muscat varieties increases on loamy, sandy loam, limestone, and sandy soils. With good care, grapes can be grown on clay, rocky, gristly soils. White super-early nutmeg prefers soil mixed with small pebbles. The best place for it is a rocky slope. Before preparing the hole, the ground should be dug up. Remains of weeds are removed.

A hole is dug 2 months before planting to a depth, width and length equal to 80 centimeters. Fertile soil is poured into it, pre-mixed with wood ash, superphosphate and humus. If the soil is clayey, add sand.

Young shoots in the first year

The finished hole is half filled with soil mixture and left to shrink. The seedling is soaked in water for a day, after which the shoot and roots are slightly shortened. The roots and bottom of the trunk are lowered into a clay mash.

The seedling is inserted onto an earthen mound made in the center of the hole. It is covered with earth to the point where growth begins. The resulting hole should be 25-30 centimeters deep.

Afterwards, the seedling is watered with settled water and covered with a wooden box (spring), a jar or a cut plastic bottle (autumn). The soil around the seedling is covered with a layer of peat or humus mulch.

A support with a height of 2 meters is formed nearby. A wire is stretched between the posts. Subsequently, the plant will send out vines and entangle the support and wire. When the shoots reach 50-80 centimeters, in the first year they are tied to pegs and then wound along a trellis.

Advantages and disadvantages

Summing up the results of our acquaintance with the Muscat pink grape variety, we can note the main advantages and negative features of this hybrid.

Advantages:

early ripening;
high sugar accumulation;
many ways to use;
unique recognizable taste and aroma.

Flaws:

low resistance to fungal diseases;
low frost resistance;
high probability of damage by phylloxera, leaf roller;
sensitive to drought, as well as to excess moisture.

Diseases and pests

Resistance to fungi such as mildew and gray rot is not lower than average.
At the same time, pink grapes are a tasty trophy for wasps, sparrows, magpies, beetles, and moths. They undermine the shoots, spoil the leaves and berries. Nevertheless, it is possible to resist them.

For birds these are usually fine mesh nets, for wasps - traps and sprays, for insects and caterpillars - insecticides.

Poisons (Zone, Get, Delta-Zone) are also used against wasps, but this is, so to speak, the least humane method - more often they prefer to simply scare them away, and set traps for those who are too curious.

Wasps, in addition to harm, also bring benefits, destroying grasshoppers, aphids, and bedbugs.

Preparations that protect grapes from mites, leaf rollers and other moths include Trichodermin, Gaupsin, Lepidotsid, Actofid and others.

You should not lose sight of such common grape diseases as anthracnose, chlorosis, bacteriosis, rubella and bacterial canker. Preventive measures taken in time will help avoid big problems.

Features of cultivation

Growing and caring for Pink Muscat is quite labor-intensive, since this hybrid is very sensitive to unfavorable external conditions. But thanks to its unique taste characteristics, the variety is still popular among professionals and amateur winegrowers.

Landing

Pink nutmeg is very demanding not only on temperature conditions, but also on location, soil, and planting of seedlings.

Muscat vineyards should be planted in sunny areas, protected from drafts and winds. In regions with little snowy winters, seedlings are planted in depressions - holes or trenches. And in regions with short, cool summers - on high ridges.

The soil on which it is planned to grow Muscat pink must be drained and acid neutral. Groundwater can lie at a depth of about 1.5 meters.

It is better to plant this variety in the spring, in late March - early April.

On a note! The vine must be protected from unpredictable return frosts, characteristic of the middle zone, with the help of film cover.

Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the seedlings:

inspect for damage, remove dry shoots;

trim the roots a little;
soak in water at room temperature;
Before planting, dip the roots of the seedlings in clay glaze.

In addition, a couple of months before planting, you should take care of preparing the planting hole:

dig a hole measuring 80cm x 80cm, the same depth
lay a drainage layer (expanded clay, pebbles, crushed stone) at the bottom of the pit;
fill soil enriched with fertilizers (organic and mineral);
cover the hole with roofing material for shrinkage until the moment of planting;
Water thoroughly before planting.

Watering and fertilizing

Muscat rose seedlings need to be watered regularly (once a week) in the first two years of life, until its root system grows and strengthens. Watering should be done in such a way that moisture gets directly under the roots to avoid the occurrence of fungal diseases. Drip irrigation is best suited for this purpose, eliminating the overflow of the crop, and at the same time ensuring constant irrigation.

In the spring, at the stage of active growth of the vine, the bushes should be fed with organic fertilizers:

chicken manure diluted in water in a ratio of 1:15;

mullein diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10;

After two weeks, repeat the organic feeding.

During the period of fruit formation, the bush requires phosphate-potassium fertilizers - superphosphate and potassium sulphide. The granules should be scattered near the bush, loosened the soil and spilled.

The vagaries and problems of Pink Muscat

The first feature of the variety is the low vigor of bush growth. Many growers may consider this a serious drawback, since this not very productive vine is slow to reach its full vigor. At the same time, any pruning of Muscat pink should be done as carefully and professionally as possible.

Others see the slow growth of this grape as an advantage:

the vines are not prone to growing shoots that weaken the plant;
the removed foliage that shaded the bunches will not be restored soon.

As a result, you can provide all the brushes that are collecting juice with a sufficient amount of sunlight and heat.

Despite the fact that Muscat pink flowers are bisexual and self-pollinate well, to increase the number of ovaries and prevent berries from peas in small vineyards, flowers can be cross-pollinated . Do this with a soft, dry sponge, collecting pollen from all plants on a clean plate. Then it is mixed and returned to the flowering brushes with a brush or the same sponge. This operation is quite effective and eliminates the need to use growth stimulants, as is done on large plantations.

The second feature of pink Muscat can be considered its dislike for clay soils, peat bogs, wetlands and groundwater close to the surface. In such places it simply may not take root, and if it does take root, it will wither and not produce a harvest.

Video about growing technical grapes by Vladimir Mayer

Origin

Breeders - employees of the Ya.I. Potapenko All-Russian Research Institute of Viticulture, as a result of crossing the Chasselas northern and Michurinets grape varieties, developed a new hybrid, "Russian Early", which is also known under another name - "sweetie". The new variety turned out to be resistant to low temperatures and fungal infections, which made it one of the most popular and desirable in domestic vineyards.

The parents of the “Early Russian” are “Shasla Severnaya” and “Michurinets”

Main conclusions

The entire variety of Muscat grape varieties is characterized by an unsurpassed taste, abundant sugar content in the fruit and a special musk aroma, thanks to which they are often used in the production of a variety of wines and juices
The fruits of nutmeg varieties are rich in phytoncides, and therefore have a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora
The main percentage of varieties are too sensitive to temperature fluctuations and various diseases, which makes them not very easy to grow in garden plots
If you take into account the climatic conditions of the region, the type of soil, as well as various agrotechnical conditions, it is possible to select a variety that will produce a good harvest and will delight you with the incomparable taste and exquisite nutmeg aroma.

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Varieties

The most famous pink varieties are:

Angelica - red berries, very pleasant to taste, with thick skin. It is distinguished by good frost resistance (up to -23 degrees) and resistance to gray rot and parasites. The shoots ripen well.
Taifi is a table variety. The flesh is dense and crispy. In the middle of the berry there are usually several (up to 3) medium-sized seeds. Feels best in the southern regions. Average frost resistance and disease resistance.
Transfiguration . Traditional pink grapes, the flesh is rich in flavor and very juicy. A variety of amateur selection, ripens in the first ten days of August. Low frost resistance, resistance to diseases, parasites, and shoot ripening are also not good. For the winter it requires indispensable shelter. It has good transportability.

Pink nutmeg . The berries of this variety are rich in color and become almost black by the end of ripening. This variety is characterized by average bush growth vigor and low frost resistance. True, it is more unpretentious to soil conditions than the same White Muscat. Ideal for Muscat wines.
Pink haze . The “parents” of this variety are considered to be Talisman and Kishmish radiant. Very high resistance to powdery mildew, mold, high frost resistance. The shoots are very strong, 65% of them ripen. It is unpretentious, therefore ideal for novice winegrowers.
Pink sultana . Belongs to the Armenian seedless varieties. It resists oidium well, but is very attractive to leaf rollers. Vigorous bush, shoot ripening is good. It has a rich taste with a hint of strawberry. The pulp is juicy, tender, without seeds.
Pink peach . This table variety owes its appearance to V.N. Krainov. The yields are good and stable. The berries are very large (the average weight of a bunch is 1.2 kg). They have a bright, rich taste and thick skin. They ripen towards the end of the last summer month. Fruits regularly. Extremely negative impact on overloads.
Original . The variety withstands cold well, is resistant to mildew and gray rot. Very large bunch. Low ripening of shoots and abundance of stepson crop.
Gurzuf pink . Obtained from crossing the varieties Magarach 124-66-26 with Muscat VIR. Frost resistance is good, resistance to rot and powdery mildew is above average. This is a universal variety, which is good for it. Most often used for making dessert wines.
The pink Timur variety was obtained from crossing the Red Vostorg and Timur varieties, and is early in terms of ripening. Satisfactory ripening of shoots, up to 70% of them bear fruit. The berry is iridescent pinkish.

History of selection

White Muscat is a very ancient grape variety, the history of selection of which goes back to ancient times, so it is difficult to say today how and when this variety appeared. It is believed that this type of vine began to be cultivated in the East, since it was in this part of the world that scientists discovered the earliest remains and descriptions of Muscat grapes.

Did you know? The largest bunch of grapes was grown in Chile. The record of 9389 g was recorded in 1984 and is still considered unsurpassed (in Crimea, however, they managed to obtain a bunch weighing 8600 g).

The opportunity to grow heat-loving vines in a more severe climate due to the accelerated ripening of berries was provided to winegrowers by Fyodor Ilyich Shatilov, a famous Russian scientist who is considered the founder of northern viticulture thanks to the implementation of the idea of \u200b\u200bcultivating this crop in his native Orenburg region. White Muscat was adapted for these purposes by the method of intraspecific selection, that is, without supplementing the genetic formula of the plant with other, earlier and frost-resistant grape varieties, but only through the natural selection of the samples that best suited the task and their cross-pollination.