grapes with muscat flavour (forum)

frenchie starts with ...
I am trying to select a grape variety suitable for Northern NSW, if at all possible with a muscat flavour - black muscat grapes are my favourite variety, but won't grow well here. I am open to other flavoursome varieties. Not interested in a grape that is very sweet but have no depth in flavour.
Some refer to the the labrusca variety as having a foxy flavour, is that any close? What about muscadine, anyone can report on their taste? Thank you :)


Time: 3rd November 2014 5:53pm

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Original Post was last edited: 3rd November 2014 5:52pm
About the Author frenchie
Alstonville, NSW
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jakfruit etiquette says...
Some of the new "muscat" drying types are very early, may fruit before the rains+humidity really hit in NNSW.
Wine grapes are also quite edible, but berries can be smaller + seedier than table grapes. Maybe work out what month the other successful NNSW grape vars fruit in, and try to match vars that fruit at the same time ?
http://www.vamvvia.org.au/pdf/newvarieties.pdf

Time: 3rd November 2014 8:08pm

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About the Author jakfruit etiquette
vic
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Grant says...
I have a black and a golden muscat in Lennox ( gold 3 seasons of fruit and black 2) both have performed well for me. They get a little ratty by autumn but fruit is well and truly gone by then.

Time: 4th November 2014 9:29am

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frenchie says...
Thanks for the suggestion Jakfruit. I think I would prefer to grow something that will cope if not thrive in our climate. I mentioned muscat to give an idea of my taste - as opposed to all sugar but no perfume like a flame or thomson.
It is interesting that you had success with muscat varieties in Lennox, Grant. Thanks for sharing your success. I am wondering if your success is relative to the unusually dry summers we have had the past two years, and if a typical humid summer would be so kind to these varieties.
I am still curious as to what Labrusca varieties may taste like and also muscadine as I understand they would be the most suited here disease-wise. There is not much in terms of feed-back about flavours and the little there is is somewhat confusing. For instance, the subtropical fruit club of Queensland says Pink Iona is their favourite, but Daley's describes it as fair. Anyone growing the adonis muscadine?
Thanks :)


Time: 4th November 2014 7:56pm

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About the Author frenchie
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Grant says...
Another excellent Blk and Golden muscat season shaping up. Still no mildew issues and taste is sensational.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 3rd January 2015 9:34pm

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About the Author Grant
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frenchie says...
Oh, wow, thanks Grant, I missed your post by 6 months, but that looks awesome! We have built a trellis, but nothing planted here as yet as we have discovered the hard way that nearly all of our block is infected with root knot nematode, so concentrating on doing green mulches with mustards and other bulk forming varieties and composting. Slow but necessary process. Very tempted to plant a Muscat when the soil is ready. Can't wait to get planting!

Time: 23rd May 2015 8:38am

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allybanana says...
Pink Iona came to mind when I read, it definitely has an interesting musky flavor. Don't worry about Daley's fair flavor comment, if you are not afraid of intense flavor it is good. Its just the blue cheese rather than the cheddar slices individually wrapped.

If i had a good climate I would jump at the chance to grow muscadine grapes as well, they sound great I suggest throw them all in and the survivors are the ones best suited to your location. Whats to loose but a few bucks, years can be lost trialing one variety at a time. Its also fun when friends come around having a variety of unique flavors for them to sample.

Are you sure that the nematodes you have are the ones that damage grapes. If you haven't a history of grapes in the plot nematodes shouldn't be an issue?

Time: 23rd May 2015 10:03pm

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About the Author allybanana
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frenchie says...
Thank Allybanana I think I will trial a muscat and iona and maybe a muscadine :) I like strong flavours over intense sweetness - and definitely blue cheese over industrial cheese!
The types of nematodes on our block affected about any veggies we planted except maybe leeks and kale, a lemon tree, camellias, so I made the assumption grapes would be victims as well. I did not realise grapes were affected by a specific specie.

Time: 13th July 2015 11:33am

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About the Author frenchie
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