Rutherglen Muscat Wine Offers

Rutherglen Muscat is Australia's iconic dessert wine produced exclusively in Rutherglen in Victoria. Many of the wineries in the region are still family-owned, which has led to a number of 'house styles' being developed.

The grape variety's long name is Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge, known locally as Brown Muscat. It is a red skinned mutation of the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains that is very popular across many styles of French wine. The Muscat is picked partly shrivelled, which lowers the water content and increases sugar, flavour and acidity in the grape. After fermenting to around 1-2% alcohol, it is quickly drained off the skins and then fortified with neutral spirit to around 18% abv.

The wines are then matured in very old oak barrels in tin roofed warehouses which get very hot during the summer months. During this time, water evaporates from the juice concentrating the wine even further. This is much like the process for Madeira where warm maturation is desired to encourage oxidative flavours at a faster rate. Then the Sherry solera system is used whereby younger and older wines are blended to get a balance between freshness and complexity, allowing producers to retain a non-vintage style every year.

There are 4 key classifications for Rutherglen Muscat

• Rutherglen Muscat - Basic style with an average of 3-5 years age.
• Classic Rutherglen Muscat - Better quality with 6-10 years average age.
• Grand Rutherglen Muscat - Even better quality, with 11-19 years average age.
• Rare Rutherglen Muscat - Made in tiny volumes and the very best. Aged above 20 years on average, often with significantly older wines in the blend.

Generally speaking, Rutherglen Muscats have pronounced aromas and flavours of raisins, toffee, caramel, chocolate, figs, dates and sweet spices. They are full-bodied, lusciously sweet and incredibly tasty.