Golden Muscat Grapes

Golden Muscat. (Muscat Hamburg x Diamond). From Cornell University's Geneva, New York experiment station. An old, green-golden variety that ripens one to two weeks after Concord, though it will ripen earlier in hot years and individual berries may ripen one to two weeks ahead of the rest of the cluster. When well ripened, the flavor of the very large berries is excellent, sweet and rich, though it is not a true muscat flavor. Even when not fully ripe it has a tangy, citrus-like flavor that is very good. Clusters often weigh over a pound and larger ones are possible. Unfortunately, the fruit is very sensitive to cracking if there is rain at ripening time and will rot readily once cracked. A good home grape, but not consistent enough for a commercial variety. At it's best in a hot, dry climate such as California. Prune it to three bud spurs on cordons.