Viticultural Information
Melon
Description
Species: Vitis vinifera Melon is an old Burgundian variety where it was once widely grown. In France, Melon is mainly used for the production of Muscadet wines in the Loire Valley. In California, it is a minor variety with small plantings in the cooler production areas of the North and Central Coast regions. Prior to the introduction of true-to-type selections in the 1980s, most Pinot blanc vineyards in California were plantings of Melon. For low- to moderate-vigor sites, vertical-shoot-positioned systems are appropriate. The use of split canopy systems should be considered only on sites with especially high potential vigor. Leaf removal in the fruit zone can be used to reduce the risk of Botrytis bunch rot. Melon can produce table wines of good flavor and balance when grown in the cooler coastal regions. The grapes have also been used to make base wine for sparkling wine production. Due to the higher tannin content in the skins, the wines are more prone to browning if not handled correctly.
People
Links
Foundation Plant Services at UC Davis is the source of Foundation grapevine material for the nursery industry, and the staff can provide information about possible sources for obtaining this stock. The National Grape Registry (NGR) contains information about varieties of wine, juice, and table grapes, raisins, and grape rootstocks available in the United States. Growers, nurseries, winemakers and researchers can find background information and source contacts for those grape varieties in this single convenient location.
Publications
NGR Match
|