The white grape variety originates from France. Synonyms grouped alphabetically by countries are Muscat Otonel (Bulgaria); Muscat Ottonel, White Muscat Ottonel (Germany); Chasselas Saint Fiacre, Muscat Ottonel, Muscat Ottonel Blanc, Ottonel Frontignan (France); Moschato Samou (Greece), Moscato Ottonel, Moscato Ottonel Bianco (Italy); Mirisavka, Muskat Otonel Bijeli (Croatia); Feinschmeckerter, White Muskat-Ottonel (Austria); Tamîioasa Ottonel (Romania); Muskat Ottonel (Slovenia); Muscadel Ottonel (South Africa); Ottonel Muskotály (Hungary).
Origin and Ancestry
The variety was selected in 1839 in Angers, France, by Jean-Pierre Vibert (1777-1866) from a seedling and then marketed in 1852 by the vine breeding company Moreau-Robert. It was named after a certain H. Ottonel, although the reason is unknown. According to 2021 DNA analyses, it is presumably a natural cross between Chasselas x Muscat d’Eisenstadt (Ingram’s Muscat); the previously referred to parent variety Muscat Précoce de Saumur has proven to be incorrect. Interestingly, the new variety Muscat St. Laurent also originated from the same parents. Muskat-Ottonel was a crossing partner of the new varieties Aletta, Aromera, Cabernet Cantor, Cabernet Carol, Cabernet Cortis, Königin Elisabeth, Mamaia, Mátrai Muskotály, Muskát Moravský, and Unirea.
Properties
The early ripening vine is susceptible to both types of mildew and Botrytis and tends to shatter. It produces greenish-yellow, spicy white wines with low alcohol content, with aromas of pear, apple, orange, tangerine, and quince, as well as an intense muscat note. Muskat-Ottonel is classified as a bouquet variety and is also a popular table grape.
Cultivation Areas
In Europe, there are cultivation areas in Bulgaria (3,679 ha), Germany (16 ha), France in Alsace (172 ha), Italy (0.1 ha), Moldova (1,859 ha), Austria (357 ha), Romania (4,779 ha), Russia (34 ha), Switzerland (5 ha), Serbia (183 ha), Slovakia, Slovenia (98 ha), Czech Republic, and Hungary (1,256 ha). Overseas, there are cultivation areas in Canada (32 ha), South Africa (9 ha), USA, and Uruguay (2 ha). In 2016, a total of 12,464 hectares of vineyard area were recorded, with a rising trend. The variety ranks 60th in the global grape variety ranking (Statistics Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Grape variety: by Funke - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link