03/01/05 Muscat

Welcome to Vine to Wine, this is your host Linda Moran. On today's program we are going to take a look at the grape called Muscat. The Muscat grape belongs to a distinguished family of grape varieties. These vines thrive in very hot dry areas. Historically they have been made into wines that were very rich and sweet - some of the world's best dessert wines. However, today they are often fermented into drier styles of table wines. Perhaps you have heard of the wines that come from within it  Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Muscat Blanc, Muscat d'Alsace, Moscato Bianco, Muscato d'Asti or Muscat Canelli. This is a grape that is grown all over central and eastern Europe. They come in many colors from greenish yellow to pink to brown. One thing to make note of is that the finest most ancient Muscat is the Muscat blanc a Petits Grains, it's berries are light skinned, small and round, rather than oval like the most commonly planted type Muscat of Alexandria. Any Muscat with the word Alexandria, Gordo, Romain, Hamburg, Ottonel in it's name was not made with this superior grape. In France Muscat d'Alsace is by far one of the region's most distinct wines. It is a delicate appertif that has such a heady fragrance that I can never decide whether to drink it or to dab it behind my ears. From Northern Italy the slightly effervescent sweet Moscato d'Asti is one of my very favorite wines. And the Muscat dessert wines are among the best to serve with blue cheese and toasted nuts after dinner. Give this very exotic smelling and wonderfully diverse tasting wine a chance. And thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.