Melon de Bourgogne

Melon de Bourgogne
Grape (Vitis)
Melon de Bourgogne grapes
Color of berry skin	Blanc
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Melon; (other names)
Origin	France
Notable regions	Loire Valley, Oregon, Washington, Southern Ontario
Notable wines	Muscadet

Melon de Bourgogne grapes during flowering.

Melon de Bourgogne or Melon is a variety of white grape grown primarily in the Loire Valley region of France. It is also grown in North America. It is best known through its use in the white wine Muscadet.

As its name suggests, the grape originated in Burgundy and was grown there until its destruction was ordered in the early 18th century. In the vineyards around Nantes and the western Loire, however, the harsh winter of 1709 destroyed so many vines that a new variety was needed, and the Melon grape was introduced. Melon is distinguished by its great resistance to frost.^{[citation needed]} Since then it has been used solely in the production of the light dry white wine Muscadet, which is made entirely from the Melon grape. The grape is so associated with its appellation that the grape itself is often known as Muscadet.

DNA analysis has revealed Melon de Bourgogne to be a cross between Pinot blanc and Gouais blanc.^[1]

In the U.S., Federal law prevents "Muscadet" from being used for American-produced wine; only the full name of the grape, or the shortened "Melon" can be used.^[2]

North America

As of 2007^{[dated info]}, the grape is grown in Oregon.^[3] where it is known simply as Melon. The grape has been introduced into Washington by Perennial Vintners on Bainbridge Island, six miles across Puget Sound from Seattle.^[4]

Because of the similarity of its terroir to that of Burgundy, several wineries in Prince Edward County in Southern Ontario have released a Melon de Bourgogne.^{[citation needed]}

Synonyms

Melon de Bourgogne is also known under the synonyms Auxerrois Gros, Biaune, Blanc de Nantes, Bourgogne Blanche, Bourgogne Verde, Bourgogne Verte, Bourguignon Blanc, Clozier, Feher Nagyburgundi, Feuille Ronde, Gamay Blanc, Gamay Blanc à Feuilles Rondes, Gamay Blanc Feullies Rondes, Game Kruglolistnyi, Gros Auxerrois, Gros Blanc, Grosse Saint Marie, Lyonnais, Lyonnaise Blanche, Malin Blanc, Mele, Melon, Meurlon, Mourlon, Muscadet, Perry, Petit Bourgogne, Petit Muscadet, Petite Biaune, Petoin, Petouin, Picarneau, Plant de Lons-Le-Saulnie, Roussette Basse, Später Weisser Burgunder, and Weisser Burgunder.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Melon, Vitis International Variety Catalogue, accessed 2010-12-03
2. ^ Federal Register Vol. 61 No. 5 from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
3. ^ "Melon de Bourgogne Wineries". MelondeBourgogne.com. December 31, 2007. http://melondebourgogne.com/wineries.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
4. ^ "2008 Melon de Bourgogne". PerennialVintners.com. http://www.perennialvintners.com/vintage2008/mdb2008.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 

External links

• Wine Doctor on the Pays Nantais A synopsis of the Muscadet region
• MelondeBourgogne.com, focused on Melon cultivation in the USA