Muscat blanc à petits grains
This white grape variety, probably of Greek origin, is the exclusive grape variety for the fortified wines (Vins Doux Naturels) of Beaumes-de-Venise, but also the majority grape variety for Clairette de Die, using the Ancestral Method. Its juicy and sweet flesh produces intensely aromatic wines, while its mutations in Muscat à petits grains rouge make it possible to produce rosé or even red wines.
Informations
Origin: Greece or Italy
Location within the Rhône Valley: Vaucluse and Diois
Plantings within the Rhône Valley AOCs: About 1 500 hectares
In the vineyards
Ampelography: Its youngest leaves are shiny and tanned towards the end of the shoot.
Bunch and berries: The berries and clusters are medium sized. The flesh of the berries is juicy, sweet and firm.
Maturity: Early-budding
Characteristics: Moderately vigorous grape variety, often exposed to spring frosts. Its high sugar potential allows a harvest at full maturity, for the production of natural sweet wines.
Terroir: Rocky and poor hillsides
In the cellars
Characteristics: Muscat à petits grains is appreciated for its intense aromatic potential, with notes of orange, brown sugar, barley sugar, raisin and flowers. It produces powerful and elegant wines, and is suitable for the production of fortified wines as well as sparkling sweet wines.
Wine styles: Still dry white wines; fortified sweet wines (Vins Doux Naturels); sparkling sweet wines
Fun facts
The Muscat family includes more than 200 distinct grape varieties throughout the world, both wine grapes and table grapes. The name Muscat comes from the "musky" scent it exudes. In the Rhône Valley, Muscat blanc à petits grains is the most planted, but this grape variety mutates easily: we also find Muscat à petits grains rouge, whether in Diois or in Beaumes-de-Venise.
It is the 3rd most planted white grape variety in the Rhône Valley!