Chateau Du Trignon Muscat De Beaumes De Venise 2010

Winery: Chateau Du Trignon

Varietal: Muscat

The Muscat grape has been grown and cultivated for centuries all over Europe, and in more recent years has become something of a flagship varietal for many New World countries. It is widely admired for its versatility and for the fact that it can be successfully used for the production of many different styles and types of wine. In eastern and central Europe, it is most commonly associated with elegant sweet dessert wines, further west it is used for bright and strong dry white wines, and it is also famous for the superb sparkling wines it produces, full of elegant bubbles and a mineral-rich flavor which compliments its natural 'grapey' character. Muscat grapes are generally agreed to be one of the oldest varietals in the world, and this goes some way to explaining the seemingly vast differences the fruit shows in various parts of the world.

Region: Rhone Valley

The southern French wine region of the Rhone Valley has been home to wine-makers for over two thousand years, with the first grapevines of the region being cultivated in around 600 BCE when the ancient Greeks arrived with their knowledge of viticulture and eagerness to produce more wine. Today, the region is famed around the world for the excellence of its produce, and has dozens of wineries making the most of the wide range of grape varietals which flourish there. In the northern sub-region, the continental climate and brisk winds coming off the Central Massif allow wineries to grow a smaller range of varietals – predominantly Syrah, Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier, whereas the southern, more Mediterranean sub-region allows far more range. Here, dozens of varietals are grown for the production of white, red and rosé wines, all packed full of flavor and able to express the unique terroir they are grown on.

Country: France

Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.