MONICA A minor red-wine grape grown in Sardinia. Used to make both a dry, red and a sweet, spicy red. Probable ancestor of the Mission grape of early California fame.
MONTEPULCIANO A minor grape primarily grown in central and southern Italy. Blended with Sangiovese to create a fruity, balanced red.
MOSCATEL DE ALEJANDRIA A Spanish and Portuguese name for the Muscat of Alexandria grape.
MOSCATO DI CANELLI See Muscat Blanc.
MOSLER Austrian name for the Hungarian Furmint grape.
MOURVEDRE A robust Mediterranean grape widely grown in the southern Rhone region of France, Spain, and in limited acreages of California. Used for color and body in red blends. Often called the Mataro in California, where it sometimes is known to develop an herbal, or "animale" character. Known as Monastrell in Spain.
MULLER-THURGAU Early-ripening cross of Sylvaner and Riesling, or possibly two clonal varieties of Riesling, widely planted in Europe, New Zealand and cooler northern regions of North America. Used to produce a flowery, yet acidic white modestly resembling Riesling. Also known as Rivaner in Europe.
MUSCADELLE A semi-classic white-wine grape grown in the Gaillac region of southeast France, as well as in California and Australia. Used in France in local sweet white blends. Incorrectly called Sauvignon Vert in California. Australian winemakers use it to produce a notable sweet dessert wine known as Liqueur Tokay of Australia.
MUSCADET DE BOURGOGNE A white-wine grape widely grown in the western part of the Loire region of France. Used to make Muscadet de Sevres et Maine, a dry, tart white with distinctive fruit in better years, and best consumed young. Possibly also grown in California as the misnamed Pinot Blanc. Also known in France as the Melon de Bourgogne.
MUSCADINE The best known varietal name for a native American species of grape grown in the Southern states of the U.S. and also in Mexico. Scuppernong is the most familiar grape variety name.
MUSCARDIN A minor red-wine grape grown in the southern Rhone region of France. Used in blends for color and body.
MUSCAT A cepage family of clone varieties used to create both red and white wines. Most are of the muscat type, having the unique aromatic character commonly associated with muscat wines, and are used for dessert wines. Also used to create Italian Spumante-type wines.
MUSCAT BLANC A muscat variety that is possibly the oldest known grape, widely grown around the Mediterranean, and throughout Europe. Used primarily for making semi-sweet and sweet dessert wines. Also known as Muskateller in Austria and Germany, Muscat Lunel in Hungary, Muscadel in South Africa, Muscat Frontignon in France, and Moscato di Canelli in Italy.
MUSCAT FRONTIGNON See Muscat Blanc.
MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA An ancient grape species widely grown around the Mediterranean. Used to make sweet wines typically inferior to Muscat Blanc cepage varieties. Used in California to produce raisins. Also widely grown in Spain, where it is called Moscatel de Alejandria, and Portugal where it is used to make Moscatel de Setubal. Also known as Muscat Gordo Blanco or Lexia in Australia, and Hanepoot in South Africa.
MUSCAT OTTONEL Mid-19th-century hybrid, probably Chasselas and a Muscat varietal, widely grown in the cooler regions of central and eastern Europe, and to a lesser extent in North America, particularly the Finger Lakes region of western New York. Used to produce a late harvest white wine.
Muscular Especially fruity and full-bodied; robust.
Musty Having a stale or moldy aroma.
N
NAPA GAMAY A clone of the Valdeguie grape of France.
NEBBIOLO A red-wine grape widely grown in the Piedmont region of Italy. Used to create fine reds including Barolo, Gattinara, Barbaresco and Ghemme, most suitable for aging. Also known as the Spanna grape.
