Melon de Bourgogne

[meh-lohn duh boor-GAWN-yuh] Although this French white-wine grape originated in burgundy, it has now all but vanished from that region. Those that are still grown in Burgundy go into the bourgogne grand ordinaire wines. Melon de Bourgogne, however, is widely planted in the loire, particularly in the Pays Nantais region where the grape and the wine is known as Muscadet. The grape's popularity in this part of the Loire is related to its ability to withstand cold weather and to its tendency to ripen early and produce a large crop. Unfortunately, most wines produced from this grape are viewed as insipid in flavor. The best wines are those from the appellation of muscadet de sèvre-et-maine and are labeled mise en bouteille sur lie, which means that they're bottled directly off the lees without filtering. This process can produce flavorful wines that are soft and creamy with hints of citrus. It was discovered that a variety growing on the grounds of the university of california, davis which was thought to be pinot blanc was actually Melon de Bourgogne. It's now believed that many of the wines called Pinot Blanc in California are really Melon de Bourgogne. This grape is also known as Lyonnaise Blanche and Weisserburgunder.

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A Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine, a wine made from Melon de Bourgogne.

Melon de Bourgogne is a variety of white grape grown in the Loire Valley region of France and best known through its use in the 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, 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.

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 this popular appellation of the western Loire that the grape itself is often known as Muscadet. In terms of flavour it is an undistinguished grape with few strong features.

A few acres of the grape are also grown in Oregon, where it is known simply as Melon.

In recent years, Melon de Bourgogne has been reintroduced to its original home region of Burgundy, particularly to the minor appellation of Bourgogne de Vēzelay. In the warmer, drier climate of Burgundy, the grape produces a fruitier, less astringent^{[citation needed]} wine than Muscadet.

External links

• Wine Doctor on the Pays Nantais A clear conspectus of the Muscadet region.
• Melon de Bourgogne Devoted to Melon cultivation in the USA.

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