FEATURED IN THE VALENTINES SPECIALAt Ventana, we grow a small amount of Muscat grapes. This is one varietal that when it blooms, you can actually smell some sweetness in the blossoms. There are many different styles of Muscat and Doug Meador chose "Orange Muscat" as the best varietal for our cooler climate. The plant has its origins from around the town of Orange in France.
Over the years, in southern France and northern Italy (never in Spain or Portugal) our hosts would serve us, 3 or 4 hours before dinner, sliced fresh fruit, cheese and a glass of chilled white wine that was both sweet and tart at the same time. Different areas use different grapes but the style was common: residual sugar combined with tartness – just like a fresh apple or apricot. We chose the Orange Muscat grape to make a wine in this style and for this use.
This is a wine with a bouquet to enjoy, full of tropical fruit, vanilla and citrus blossoms. On the palate the fruit flavors are foremost with peach, nectarine and citrus. The wine is medium bodied with just enough residual sugar to enhance the fruit but allowing enough acidity to make it quaffable as an aperitif. Serve well chilled as an aperitif or serve with almond biscotti or marzipan cake as dessert.
