Rutherglen Muscats: Sweetness in Every Drop
From Australia's Rutherglen wine region, Rutherglen Muscats are unique and yummy wines famous for their sweetness. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the wine for you!
But did you know they also have different age classifications?
These wines are split into four categories depending on their age and sweetness:
Rutherglen Muscat, Classic Rutherglen Muscat, Grand Rutherglen Muscat, and Rare Rutherglen Muscat. Here's what those names mean:
Rutherglen Muscat: These are the youngest of the bunch. They are typically between 3 to 5 years old. Even at this young age, they pack a punch with 180-240 grams per liter (g/L) of residual sugar. Residual sugar is what makes the wine sweet!
Classic Rutherglen Muscat: A step up from the Rutherglen Muscat, these wines are 6 to 10 years old. They are a bit sweeter, too, with a sugar level ranging between 200-280 g/L.
Grand Rutherglen Muscat: Now we're getting really fancy. These wines are between 11 to 19 years old. Their sugar levels are also higher, hitting between 270-370 g/L.
Rare Rutherglen Muscat: The cream of the crop, these wines are 20 years old or more. They are the sweetest, with a whopping 270-400 g/L of residual sugar.
What's important to know is that making these sweet wines starts in the vineyard. The quality of the grapes and their sugar content is super important. The vines are planted in deep red soils, which hold water well.
This helps the grapes ripen slowly, developing rich flavors while keeping a good level of acidity. This combination of rich flavors and acidity helps balance out the sweetness of the wine.
So, the next time you're enjoying a glass of Rutherglen Muscat, remember the age and sweetness that make it so delicious!
