6: Rutherglen Muscat Flashcards
What styles of fortified wine does Australia make? Which is the most well known from a global standpoint?
- variety of fortified wine styles
- including some inspired by Sherry and Port.
- Rutherglen Muscat
When were vines first planted in Rutherglen, Victoria?
1850s
When did the popularity of Rutherglen, Victoria first increase? What caused this boom?
- 1858
- gold was discovered
- population boomed
- investment in the region increased
In 1890, Rutherglen production was what percent of Australia’s wines? Where was much of it sold?
- 25%
- exported to UK
What styles of wine were made in the 1890s?
- sources are unclear
- very old stocks of wines suggest some sweet, fortified wines were being made
What happened to Rutherglen at the end of the 19th century?
decimated by phylloxera
How did Rutherglen recover from phylloxera?
by replanting on resistant rootstocks
Why did Rutherglen never fully recover after phylloxera?
- new century brought Federation and end to cross-border tariffs
- found it difficult to compete with the more productive regions in South Australia
- did not fully restore its previous area of vineyard
Today, what is Rutherglen considered?
the capital of fortified wines in Australia
Who mainly produces Rutherglen Muscat? What has this lead to?
- family run and have been making this wine for several generations
- ‘house styles’ have developed and been maintained based on fruit selection, winemaking, maturation and blending choices