Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

155 appellations — a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Appellation Details

A small appellation located in the southern portion of the Rhône Valley, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is surrounded by Côtes du Ventoux in the south and east and Vacquerays and Gigondas to the west and north. The land is Provençal in nature, with alternating sun-baked hills and fields of scree and lavender, though the soil ranges from heavy clay to sand and gravel. Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise also produces red wines under the Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation, but this region has AC status for the delicious and sweet white Vin Doux Naturels produced here.

The wines are created from the Muscat Blanc á Petits Grains, the head of the Muscat family household, and one of the oldest grape varieties in the world. There are two versions in play here, both the Blanc and a Noir varietal that tastes very similar but has a darker hue. Most of the better wines are a blend of the two. Muscat has a distinct fruity and pleasant aroma and flavor, some call it the most <I>grapey</I> of all the grapes. Either way, the wine produced here is deliciously sweet yet with balanced acidity, and makes for a tasty treat at either the beginning or end of a meal.

Made by a process in which the fermentation is prematurely halted by the addition of grape brandy, the wines have a high amount of residual sugar and an elevated level of alcohol, with 15% being the minimum. The grapes are harvested in late October to ensure full ripeness and sugar levels.

As recently as the 1950s Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise was in danger of dissappearing forever, but a local co-op was created and since that time the fortunes of the appellation have changed. Though the first export was jsut a short time ago in the 1970s, today Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise can be found in many parts of the world, and is generally regarded as the most consisitently fine of the vin doux naturels, if not the best.