Climbers
The ability to climb and scramble over the ground or other plants is the only characteristic shared by plants in this category.
Vitis vinifera ‘Morrastel’
‘No. 36 - Mourastel. Black grape, much resembling the last, but although sweeter, scarcely so productive
The foregoing three [Carignan, Grenache and Mataro], with sometimes the addition of No. 36 [Mourastell], are described by Mr. Busby, in his journal, and by French authors, as the sorts used in making the wine of Roussillon; the whole being usually planted together. Some of the wine made from them, on decomposing schistus, is said to have been kept more than 150 years, and to have continued to improve to the last.’ [Maro p.29/1844].
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains’
I have found no contemporary description of this grape. Hogg gives ‘Moscatel Menudo’ as a synonym of ‘Red Frontignan’. See ‘Muscat Rouge’.
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Blanc’
‘Bunches rather long, without shoulders. Berries middle-sized, rather closely set, of a muddy white, or greenish yellow, and covered with a thin, white, powdery bloom. Flesh delicate. Juice sugary, very rich, with a highly musky flavour.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.212/1831].
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Gris’
‘Bunches middle-sized, with small narrow shoulders. Berries round, larger than those of the White Frontignan, and growing closer upon the bunches: they are of a pale brown colour, intermixed with red and yellow. The Juice is very rich, and possesses a high musky flavour.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.201/1831].
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Noir’
‘Bunches small and short. Berries small, round, and grow close upon the bunches. Skin black, when fully exposed, and covered with a blue or violet bloom. Flesh tender; the juice of a rich vinous musky flavour.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.191/1831].
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat of Alexandria’
‘Bunches large, and well shouldered. Berries large, oval, and when well ripened of a fine pale amber colour, and where exposed to the sun tinged with a deep amber russet: the large ones are generally without stones. Skin rather thick, and the flesh firm and hard. Juice not plentiful, but of a sweet, highly musky, and most delicious flavour.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.215/1831].
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Rouge’
‘Bunches larger than those of the Black Frontignan, and without shoulders. Berries larger also, perfectly round, and of a dark red colour. Flesh delicate and tender. Juice plentiful, of a most rich, musky, vinous flavour. [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.204/1831].
Vitis vinifera ‘Pedro Ximenes’
‘Bunches, long, conical or somewhat cylindrical; shouldered. Stalk, long, slender, and brittle. Berries, oblong. Skin, thin, rather transparent; pale yellow or amber. Flesh, rather firm and fleshy, very sweet, and richly flavoured.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.401/1884].
Vitis vinifera ‘Pinot Blanc’
‘No. 14 – Pineau Blanc (48/1, 52/1, 35/2, or Nos. 48 and 52 of the private collection, and No. 35, of the Luxembourg). One of the most celebrated wine grapes of the North of France, and extensively cultivated in the best vineyards of Burgundy and Champagne. Bunches very small, berries small, very sweet and sugary, produces very little, but of excellent quality; requires same distance as No.1 [Pineau Gris], and may ripen its crop perhaps from ten to fourteen days later.’ [Maro p.24/1844].
Vitis vinifera ‘Pinot Gris’
‘No. 1 – Pineau Gris (No. 56/1, of the 1st, or Mr. Busby’s private collection in the Botanic Gardens, but misnamed in the catalogue Carbenet Sauvignon [sic], which does not exist there). Small pink or greyish grape, which sets in small close clusters; very early ripe, very sugary and sweet to the palate, bears little, but is excellent for wine, a very hardy plant, but requiring several years to attain sufficient vigour to produce fruit, requires very little room, never exceeding 4ft. by 2ft. 6ins., and in the colder districts may be planted at 3ft. by 2ft. This is the most promising wine grape I have been enabled to select for an elevated cold region. It may be expected to yield under proper management from 200 to 400 gallons to the acre, according to the soil and season.’ [Maro p.21/1844].
Vitis vinifera ‘Pinot Noir’
‘Bunches, small, very compact, cylindrical, and occasionally shouldered. Berries, generally oval, inclining to roundish. Skin, thin, blue-black, covered with blue bloom. Flesh, juicy, sweet, and richly flavoured. Ripens well against a wall in the open air, and is one of the best for this purpose. The bunches are larger than those of Miller's Burgundy.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.373/1884].
Vitis vinifera ‘Raisin de Carmes’
Probably Raisin de Carmes. ‘Bunches long, loose. Berries very large, of an irregular oval figure, with a few small berries intermixed. Skin rather thick, of a dusky reddish purple colour, and covered with a fine bloom. Flesh firm, juicy, and very rich, combined with a little acid. Seeds large, seldom more than one in each berry.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.203/1831].
Vitis vinifera ‘Raisin Vert’
‘No. 18 – Raisin Vert (385/3, or No. 385 of the Montperlier collection [of Busby]). White grape, apparently a variety of the Pineau family, more luxuriant in its growth, and more productive than Nos. 1 [Pineau Gris] and 14 [Pineau Blanc], but not so rich in saccharine matter; has the appearance of being a good wine grape.’ [Maro p.25/1844].
Vitis vinifera ‘Riesling’
‘Bunches, small, short, and compact, scarcely, if at all, shouldered. Berries, round, or somewhat oblate. Skin, thin, greenish white, and, when highly ripened, sometimes with a reddish tinge. Flesh, tender, fleshy, and juicy, with a sweet and agreeably aromatic flavour.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.412/1884].
