Oregon Wine Information Blog

8:29 AM

08/16/08 - Muscat Blanc

Today's Muscat Blanc Article

Wine labels - Peeling off the mystery



One of the most baffling subjects that confronts the budding wine enthusiast is the deciphering of the myriad of information contained on the bottle label, especially that contained on wine bottles from European countries. Once the basic rules are taken on board it becomes a lot simpler. Whereas most New World countries put details of the grape varieties on the front label, a lot of European regions do not, and as this is the most basic of information for taste purposes why is this the case?


European winemakers tend to put more emphasis on the place of origin. For instance, a Bordeaux red typically wont say 'Cabernet' or 'Merlot' on the front label, but instead have the name of the chateau where it was made, and usually the part of Bordeaux where it was made, for example Haut-Medoc. Similarly a Sancerre is totally Sauvignon Blanc, but an in depth analysis of the label will leave you none the wiser. For the French the important factor is that the wine comes from Sancerre in the Loire valley and for them it is inbred knowledge that white Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc.


Moving south to Spain, red Rioja declares itself as Rioja on the label, not Tempranillo the grape variety used, whilst in Italy most Tuscan reds have no information on the Sangiovese grape that is most widely used in these wines. Given this mish-mash of information it is no wonder that many of us head for that bottle with the label announcing it is a Chardonnay Viognier from the Ironstone Vineyard of California.


It is clear then that the Europeans believe the most important factor influencing a wine's character is the soil, climate and culture of the area where the grape is grown and this is particularly important to single-vineyard wines who make the most of capturing the essence of a particular area of land. So whereas a French winemaker will see his wine as reflecting the character of a particular region, a New World winemaker mad about grape varieties will consider that soil is just the growing medium in which the fruit grows, and that the grape variety and hard work in the winery are what really counts. Today these two opposing approaches to wine labelling are moving closer together with New World producers emphasising their regionality and its characteristics, whilst European, even the parochial French winemakers possibly prompted by the wholesalers and the supermarkets are labelling their wines more clearly.

About the Author


James Pendleton is a lover of the better things in life. For more information on wine visit Wine Capital

Thoughts about Muscat Blanc

Wine labels - Peeling off the mystery


One of the most baffling subjects that confronts the budding wine enthusiast is the deciphering of the myriad of information contained on the bottle l...


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Recommended Muscat Blanc Items

Riedel Vinum Cabernet/Bordeaux (Set of 2)


Riedel Vinum Wine Glasses make every drop of wine taste its best. Riedel revolutionized glassware by customizing the shape of wine glasses to a particular type of wine. Each wine glass is fine-tuned to direct the flow of the wine onto parts of the palate that will best express the flavors and aromas of a specific wine varietal. The fine crystal offers superb clarity so you can experience the wine's color and texture. Riedel Vinum offers a comprehensive selection of varietal-specific glassware that's affordable functional and dishwasher safe. The Riedel Vinum Cabernet / Merlot / Bordeaux wine glass is ideal for full-bodied complex red wines that are high in alcohol and tannins. The generous size allows the wine to aerate in the glass and the bouquet to develop fully. The shape of the rim directs the flow of the wine to the front palate to enhance sweetness thus accentuating the fruit while softening bitter tannins. Recommended for: Bordeaux (red) Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese Cabernet Franc.8 7/8'H 21 1/2oz. Attention California residents. Proposition 65 WARNING.


Price: 49.80 USD



Headlines on Muscat Blanc

Star buys: August 16 (Times Online)

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:20:44 PDT
2007 Oddbins Own White, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France, £3.99. Stand-alone cheap and cheerful French white made from a hodgepodge of Languedoc grapes, including viognier, sauvignon blanc, muscat and chardonnay, whose citrusy verdant style has a mouthwatering lemon and celery finish.

Crisp white wines for late summer (San Jose Mercury News)

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:22:12 PDT
By Laurie Daniel

Cap Classique meets heavenly nougat at The House of J.C. Le Roux (South African Wine News)

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:03:01 PDT
Seduce your taste buds with the sublime combination of fine vintage Méthode Cap Classiques and decadently handcrafted nougat delicacies at The House of J.C. Le Roux. Utter indulgence is what you can expect when savouring the stylish J.C. Le Roux bubblies and irresistible nougat pairings on offer at South Africa's leading house of sparkling wines.

Reader Review #4: York Street

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:25:30 PDT
Good morning lovely Dishers and Dishettes. I hope everyone had a wonderful and satisfying night of eating last night (I definitely did. More on that later.) Here’s the first review of the morning: York Street. Jump for it. We got a late cancellation today to dine at York Street, so we arrived for a 6.00pm reservation at 5.50, and we were seated promptly and given a very varied and wonderful menu. “Would you like to take advantage of the wine pairings that Chef has put together?” we were a

Weekend in the Columbia Valley

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:44:40 PDT
We recently spent a long weekend in the Columbia Valley visiting a number of wineries, some we had visited years ago and others we had not previously visited. The Columbia Valley, established in 1984, is Washington State’s largest AVA (American Viticultural Area). Six other AVAs are located within the borders of the Columbia Valley AVA, including Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, and Rattlesnake Hills. In our three days there, we visited eight


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