Grape Variety: Muscat
Geography: Very widely planted throughout Europe, also Victoria, Australia.
Viticulture: The hot, highly continental climate of North East Victoria, Australia is ideal terroir for growing grapes for producing delicious liqueur Muscats—Australia’s answer to Europe’s fortified versions.
Varietal/Blend: Often blended with various other grape varieties to increase complexity and flavor. Also used to make Asti Spumante in Italy.
Flavor & Character: Probably the only grape that produces wine with the aroma of the grape itself. Sweet Muscats have flavors of raisins and oranges.
Vinification: The sweet dessert wines are often fortified with grape brandy during fermentation to preserve sweetness.
Style: Produces a vast range of styles, ranging from sweet and fortified to dry, floral and grapy.
Body, Dry/Sweet: Ranges from the dry, full bodied and aromatic to the sweet heaviness of dessert wines.
Notes: Also known as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains—its full name. Not to be confused with Muscadet, the dry white wine from the Loire Valley.