Vitis vinifera Moscato Terracina - Grapevine

The 'Moscato Terracina' vine is a grape variety used in the Latium region of Italy, suitable for direct consumption and winemaking, that is, a table and wine grape. Its clusters are quite large, cylindrical-conical in shape, compact, winged, and about 20-25 cm long. The medium-sized, not very firm, rounded berry is very close to the pedicel, with thick chalky skin with a more intense golden-yellow colour on the side exposed to the sun. The flesh is quite juicy and sweet, with a pleasant muscat aroma. The harvest takes place from late September to October. Moscato di Terracina is a very aromatic and versatile grape variety, used to produce wines in all possible styles, from still dry wines to sparkling wines. The plant is vigorous and productive and has good disease resistance.

The wine grape vine (Vitis vinifera) grew wild over 5000 years ago. Many hybrids were created to vary colours, flavours, and uses. The 'Moscato Terracina' is a grape variety probably of Syrian origin, perhaps introduced to Italy from Greece in the Middle Ages by the Venetians. Moscato di Terracina is very similar to Moscato bianco. It is probably a local adaptation of this clone. The cultivation area coincides with the Terracina AOC, located on the coastal part of the Pontine Plain. Wines made from Moscato di Terracina have great aromas, ranging from ripe fruits to honey, with notes of almond, but also iodine due to the proximity to the sea.

The 'Moscato Terracina' vine is a climber of medium vigour that easily reaches a height or spread of 4-5 m if not pruned. Its final shape will depend on the pruning. It is a drought-tolerant, sun-loving plant that thrives in clayey and stony soil, with a tendency towards limestone, and withstands dry summers well. Its long stems cling to their support (trellis, espalier...) with large green and twining tendrils. Its deep green foliage with serrated edges turns the most beautiful gold in autumn. It blooms in May-June depending on the year and region, with very small greenish flowers gathered in short and compact pyramidal and cylindrical clusters. Its large, round grapes are more or less tightly packed on pyramidal clusters. Their quite thick and chalky skin is golden yellow and encloses squishy, juicy, and very sweet flesh with a muscat flavour. This vine is hardy down to -22º C.

The 'Moscato Terracina' grape can be consumed fresh or after winemaking. It can also be used for ornamentation on a pergola, or arbor, or trained against a sunny wall.