Domaine Ostertag Muscat Fronholz Vin D'alsace 2009 750ml

Winery: Domaine Ostertag

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: Alsace

For lovers of fine white and rosé wines, there are few regions in the world quite as good as France's Alsace. The region itself is a particularly fascinating one, as it has long been fought over by France and Germany, resulting in a culture and wine industry which is something of a blend of the two countries. Wines in Alsace are almost all white, although there are more wineries now producing the pale red or pinkish Pinot Noir wines which the region is also renowned for. Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Muscat are also grown in huge quantities across the Alsace, and most of the region's wines are made from these varietals. Overall, Alsace is a highly productive region of France, with over a hundred million liters of wine being produced annually from the nine permitted grape varietals the region grows.

Country: France

French winemakers are subjected to several laws and regulations regarding the wines they produce, and how they can be labeled and sold. Such procedures are designed to increase the overall quality of the country's produce, and also to ensure that wines made in each particular region or appellation are of a character and type which is representative of the area. Thankfully for consumers of wine world-wide, the French have a particularly high reputation to uphold, and seem to do so flawlessly. Every year, wineries from all over France produce millions upon millions of bottles of fine wine, making the most of their native grape varieties and the excellent terrain which covers most of the country. From the expensive and exquisite red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the white wines and cremants of central France, the French are dedicated to providing the world with wines of the highest quality and most distinctive character.