Grape Variety: Melon

Variety Name	Melon
TTB Approved Name(s)	Melon de Bourgogne (Melon)
Common Synonyms	Melon de Bourgogne, Muscadet
All Synonyms	Auxerrois gros, Biaune, Blanc de Nantes, Bourgogne blanche, Bourguignon blanc, Clozier, Feher Nagyburgundi, Feuille Ronde, Gamay blanc Feuilles Rondes, Gamay blanc à Feuilles Rondes, Game Kruglolistnyi, Gros Auxerrois blanc, Grosse Saint Marie, Grosse Sainte-Marie, Latran, Lyonnais, Lyonnaise blanche, Mele, Melon de Bourgogne, Melon de Bourgogne, Meurlon, Muscadet, Perry, Petit Biaune, Petit Bourgogne, Petit Melon Musque, Petoin, Petouin, Picarneau, Plant de Lons-le-Saulnie, Pourrisseux, Spater Weisser Burgunder, Weisser Burgunder
Countries of Origin	France
Species	Vitis vinifera
Pedigree	Pinot x Gouais blanc
References	Show 7 references Hide references Christensen, L et al. 2003. Wine Grape Varieties in California. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3419. ENTAV. Catalogue of Selected Wine Grape Varieties and Clones Cultivated in France.1995. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food CTPS. France. Galet, P. 1998. Grape Varieties and Rootstock Varieties. Oenoplurimedia sarl. Chateau de Chaintre, France. Robinson, J. 2006. The Oxford Companion to Wine. Third edition. Oxford University Press. Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC). Federal Centre for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants (BAZ). Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (IRZ). August, 2007. Link The former National Grape Registry (NGR) was initially compiled and annotated using the earlier version of the Vitis database. The VIVC underwent a significant update beginning in 2007. Corresponding updates to this Registry will be made as necessary. Bowers, J., J-M. Boursiquot, P. This, K. Chu, H. Johansson, C. Meredith. 1999. Historical Genetics: The Parentage of Chardonnay, Gamay, and other Wine Grapes of Northeastern France. Science 285: 1562-1565. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Code of Federal Regulations Title 27 Part 4.91 List of approved prime names. Link
Berry Color	White
Uses	Wine
Comments	Melon is an old Burgundian variety where it was once widely grown. In France, Melon is used primarily for the production of Muscadet wines in the Loire Valley. In California, it is a minor variety with small plantings in the cooler production areas of the north and central coast regions. At one time, this variety was misidentified in California as Pinot blanc.

Melon PhotosClick photo to enlarge

Melon Selections

Information about: Clonal Families, Selection Numbers and Registration Status

	Melon [01]
Registration Status	Registered
Source	California vineyard (Beaulieu)
	Melon [05]
Registration Status	Registered
Source	California vineyard (Inglenook)
	Melon [08]
Registration Status	Registered
Source	Melon FPS 03, which was from France
Comments	This selection was imported to Davis in 1967 from the Centre de Recherches Agronomique, in Port de la Maye, Bordeaux, France (USDA-ARS Plant identification number 319148). The plant material was collected in Gers, France, and came with the designation 'clone 7948'. The original plant material underwent testing at Foundation Plant Services and was planted in the old foundation vineyard in 1970 as Melon 03. In 1999, plant material from from Melon 03 was subjected to microshoot tip tissue culture disease elimination therapy. After successful completion of testing for the California Grapevine Registration & Certification Program, the new treated vines were planted in the FPS Classic Foundation Vineyard in 2007 as Melon 08. Melon 08 successfully completed testing under the 2010 Protocol in 2011, after which it was planted in the Russell Ranch Foundation Vineyard as Melon 08.1. Melon 08/08.1 and Melon 09/09.1 came from the same Melon 'clone' in France.
	Melon [09]
Selections in Family	Melon [09] [4]
Registration Status	Registered
Source	Melon FPS 04, which was originally from Pont de la Maye, France
Comments	This selection was imported to Davis in 1967 from the Centre de Recherches Agronomique, in Port de la Maye, Bordeaux, France (USDA-ARS Plant identification number 319148). The plant material was collected in Gers, France, and came with the designation 'clone 7948'. The selection underwent testing at Foundation Plant Services and was planted in the old foundation vineyard in 1970 as Melon 04. In 1999, plant tissue was taken from Melon 04 for the purpose of microshoot tip tissue culture disease elimination therapy. After successful completion of testing for the California Grapevine Registration & Certification Program, the new treated selection was planted in 2007 in the FPS Classic Foundation Vineyard as Melon 09. Melon 09 successfully completed testing under the 2010 Protocol in 2012, after which it was planted in the Russell Ranch Foundation Vineyard as Melon 9.1. Melon 09/09.1 and Melon 08/08.1 came from the same Melon 'clone' in France.
	Melon [10]
Registration Status	Registered
Source	California vineyard (Masson)
Comments	This selection came to Foundation Plant Services before 1979 with the variety name Chardonnay. The source information in the FPS database indicates that the material originated from a California vineyard named “Masson” (Masson 62-2). The original material underwent heat treatment therapy at FPS beginning in 1979 and was subjected to index testing in 1980. The selection qualified for the FPS foundation vineyard in 1987 where it was planted as Chardonnay 24. French ampelographer Jean Michel Boursiquot was in Davis in 1990 and inspected the FPS foundation vineyard for correct varietal identification. He indicated that Chardonnay 24 had been incorrectly identified and was in reality the variety Melon. The Chardonnay 24 foundation vines were thereafter placed on hold. The identification of the selection as Melon was eventually confirmed by DNA analysis at FPS in 2017. The selection was assigned the name Melon 10.
	Melon [229] (proprietary)
Registration Status	Registered
Source	Melon ENTAV-INRA ® 229 authorized clone from ENTAV in France
Proprietary	Proprietary- cannot be distributed without written permission from owner: ENTAV International
Comments	Distributed by ENTAV-INRA licensees