What is Muscadet?

Muscadet is a French white wine from the Loire Valley area. Made of Melon de Bourgogne grapes, more than any other Loire Valley wine is produced. Unlike most French wines, Muscadet does not take its name from the area in which it is produced or from the variety of grapes from which it is made. The name is most likely refers to the flavor of musk or musky.

Melon de Bourgogne Grape has been grown in the Loire valley since at least the 17th century. It is grown in the far west of the region, near the city of Nantes. This area is cooler than other Loire Valley areas and sees more precipitation because of the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. The soil is sandy and rocky, including slate, volcanic rocks and granite. The soil is also rich in potassium and magnesium.

Frost and molds are the greatest threats for vines in the far valley of Western Loire, but Melon de Bourgogne is relatively freezing and ripens soon. Grapes are harvested at the end of September. A few days or weeks later was a recent trend to harvestGrapes to form sweeter, less acidic wine.

Melon de Bourgogne has a relatively neutral taste, so the techniques of winery formation are used to create a more complex drink. One of the most common is to age wine when it is exposed to Kalab, or dead cells of yeast remained as a by -product of fermentation. Wines, which spend at least one full winter exposed to Lees and are not in bottles until the third of March, include the label on the bottle.

Muscadet wines are usually dry, light and refreshing, often with a slight murmur caused by carbon dioxide from the process of filling. Those who have aged over Lees can have a light yeast taste. Wine is required by French right to avoid more than 12% of alcohol volume (ABV). Usually served with seafood, especially oysters, lobster and shrimp. While some muscadets may be aging for up to ten years, most of them would be pShe was supposed to use paddles for no more than three years.

There are three sub -applications of Muscadet, named after the specific area of ​​each wine. Muscadet-version et Maine, which produces 80% of Muscadet, and Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire was founded in 1936. Muscadet-Côtes de Granlieu was founded in 1994.