Officially, it’s Muscat a petit grains (Muscat with little berries) but Frontignac or Frontignan, the most distinguished of the Muscat family of grape varieties, is used for winemaking, table grapes, and raisins. Other members of the family include Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Hamburg and Muscat Ottonel.
With grapes ranging in colour from white to almost black, the variety is grown around the world, including France, Italy, Spain, eastern Europe, Greece, Austria, Portugal, South Africa, Australia and California. The variety produces a range of styles, including full-bodied dry whites, sweet, fortified styles and sparkling wines.
Since it’s widely grown, the variety is known by many names, including Muscat Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Moscato Bianco, Muscat Frontignan or Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de Lunel, Muscat d'Alsace, Muskateller, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Moscato Giallo, Goldmuskateller, Moscato Rosa, Rosenmuskateller, Moscatel Rosé and Sárgamuskotály.
The wines may vary from light gold to deeper yellows and golds due to genetic instability. Mutations are common and strains of the variety produce pink or reddish-brown berries. The same vine could produce different coloured berries from year to year. These strains are common in Australia and South Africa.
Like Traminer it produces intensely floral, aromatic wines. The mouth feel will vary depending on the style but floral notes will almost invariably be there.
One of the oldest grape varieties, Frontignac is thought to be the Ancient Greek Anathelicon moschaton grape and the Roman Apiane. It was probably introduced to France through Marseille by the Greeks and spread elsewhere in France by the Romans. It was grown around Frontignan when Charlemagne ruled, and reached Germany before the 12th century, becoming popular in Alsace by the 16th.
In France, the variety is blended with Grenache Blanc and Muscat of Alexandria tand it is the main variety in the southern Rhône’s sweet, fortified Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and in the northern Rhône, a blend with Clairette produces sparkling Clairette de Die.
In Italy, it is the oldest variety in Piedmont, and while it is the main grape in Asti Spumante and Moscato d'Asti, it produces sweet wines in the Alto Adige, as well as vermouth, fortified dessert wine and semi-sparkling Frizzante.
The variety requires a long growing season, tends to bud early, ripen late and can be effected by mildew, grape berry moth, leaf roll, odium and grey rot.
In warmer climates like Australia early ripening fruit can be used for low alcohol moscato styles, with picking starting in early February. Picking for fortified production takes place in mid-March.