Fortified Muscat

Question 1

Describe fortified muscat wines.

Answer 1

Grapes used: low-med acid, orange blossom, rose, grape

Warm to hot climates, but benefit from cooling (preserves acidity and aromas)

Two styles:

1. Youthful, not aged (i.e. Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise)
2. Fully developed, aged (i.e. Rutherglen)

Question 2

Describe a Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise wine.

Answer 2

Made in Northern Rhone

Medium gold, floral & aromatic, sweet (rarely luscious)

1. Grapes picked when ripe and healthy (not raisined or dried) to maintain varietal char.
2. After being crushed, some skin contact used to increase aromatics. Might continue until fermentation
3. Fermentation is cool & stopped by adding grape spirits
4. Inert vessels, protected from oxygen

Question 3

Describe a Rutherglen wine.

Answer 3

Made in Australia

Amber to brown, sweet or lucscious

1. Grapes picked when ripe and healthy for sweet version. Raisined grapes used for luscious version.
2. Fermented on skins, can be interrupted at 2% abv for luscious
3. Old, large oak barrels used to age oxidatively for decades

Even old wines maintain muscat aromas
Oldest wines given aromatic lift by blending small amount of youthful wine