Fortified Muscats

Question 1

What style of fortified Muscat is produced in Southern Rhône?

Answer 1

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Youthful and unaged style
Typically sweet but rarely luscious
Fermentation is cool and is stopped by fortification with 96% abv. Grape spirit to give a sweet wine.

Question 2

Drying and raising grapes is practised with production of Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.
True/False

Answer 2

False. It’s not used in order to preserve Pura varietal characteristics and dried notes are not desirable.

Question 3

What region is famous for producing aged Muscats?

Answer 3

Rutherglen, Austria

The grapes are picked when they are ripe and healthy, however to make more luscious style the producer may want to allow some raisining to happen prior to picking.
Fermentation happens on the skins, the fortification may take place when fermentation has reached 2% abv.
These wines will then undergo a period of oxidative ageing that can last for decades.