EXPLORING SWEET WINE: Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise
Listen & Learn - Podcast Episode Details Below!
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Listen & Learn - Podcast Episode Details Below! 〰️
PICTURED ABOVE: Half bottle of Xavier Muscat Beaumes-de—Venise (approx. retail price - $20)
Sweet wines are not necessarily for everybody but they do have a place in the lives (and in the glasses) of most wine lovers.
Before we go much further, let’s clarify the use of the word “sweet” here.
The term “sweet” is not meant to connote wines that have some small amount residual sugar in them. Such wines, which are rather prevalent, are still considered to be “dry” (not sweet) wines in spite of the residual sugar. You will commonly hear these wines referred to vis-a-vis the use of terms such as “off-dry” or “medium dry” depending on the level of sweetness they contain. But overall, they still live in the “dry” category.
In the world of wine, a sweet wine is truly sweet. Like, think a piece-of-cake-sweet. At a bare minimum, these wines generally contain north of 45 g/L of residual sugar….and more often than not, they are much, much sweeter (north of 100 g/L of residual sugar is very common and levels as high as 200+ g/L are not unheard of).
Does that sound like a lot to deal with in a wine glass? For some (especially in the sugar conscious world that we live in these days), it might be. Just remember though that, unlike dry wine, sweet wines are consumed in much smaller quantities.
And when had at the right time, on the right occasion and with the right food, sweet wines add just the right touch to make for very memorable moments.
Sweet wines come in a range of styles and many wine regions have developed their own signature styles of sweet wine over time. For example, think of Port or Ice Wine. Of interest for this article, France is known for the production of Vin Doux Naturels. These wines are made in a sweet style vis-a-vis a process known as “mutage” (explained in further detail below) and are primarily made from either the Muscat or Grenache varieties, in many towns and villages in the Rhone Valley and south of France.
In this article, we are looking at one specific example of a vin doux naturel, namely Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise.
What is Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise?
Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise is a sweet, highly aromatic wine that is made from the Muscat grape in the southern Rhône Valley in southeastern France.
More specifically, this wine hails from the area around a small village called Beaumes-de-Venise (officially, the neighbouring town of Aubignan is also a part of the recognized Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise growing area).
The town of Beaumes-de-Venise has a long history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman era. The Muscat grape variety was one of the first to be cultivated in the area, and it has been used to produce sweet wines for centuries.
However, it wasn't until 1945 that the wine was awarded AOC status, thereby officially recognizing the wine's quality and origin. Today, this sweet wine is renowned and drunk by wine lovers all around the world.
A Bit More About Beaumes-de-Venise
The Beaumes-de-Venise vineyards are permitted to produce both Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise AOC wines and dry red wines under the Beaumes-de-Venise AOC. The vineyards are located on the southern slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail, a small chain of mountains in Provence in southern France.
The total acreage dedicated to the production of Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise AOC wines is less than 500 hectares. And from this already small base, it is worth noting that less than 20% of the wines produced here reach export markets.
The overall climate is hot and dry, affected by the mistral wind. The soils are a mixture of clay and sand.
The Grape Variety - Muscat a Petits Grains
Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise is produced from the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains grape variety, considered to be the oldest and most noteworthy variation of Muscat.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is known for the small size of its berries and its intense aromatics, which lean towards orange blossoms, grapes and spice. In spite of the name containing the word “Blanc”, this variety produces berries in white, pink, red and black hues and there are over 60 synonyms for its name worldwide!
Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise must be produced using 100% of this variety.
How The Wine Is Produced
The grapes used to produce Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise are harvested late in the growing season, which allows them to fully ripen and develop high sugar levels in the hot Mediterranean climate of the area.
The bunches are harvested manually via successive passages through the vineyards, with picking occurring based on the maturity of the individual bunches. By regulation, the grapes must have a potential sugar content greater than 252 g/l in order to be harvested (see below for more information on regulations).
As a result, the must used to produce this wine is naturally very sweet. This natural sweetness means that no additional sugar needs to be added during the winemaking process to affect a sweet end product and in fact the wine is produced by arresting fermentation through the addition of a spirit, in a process known as mutage.
This style of wine is produced by fermenting the juice of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains grapes in stainless steel tanks. As noted above, the fermentation process is manually stopped when the wine reaches the desired alcohol and sugar levels through the addition of a small amount of neutral grape spirit, which kills the fermentation yeast and stops the fermentation process. The wine is then aged in oak barrels for several months to develop its flavour and aroma.
As such, Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise is in fact a sweet fortified wine, much like Port or Madeira.
The wines must contain at least 100g/l of sugar and have a minimum acquired alcohol content of 15%. It might be surprising to hear this, but this level of alcohol and sweetness is actually not that high for the sweet wine category!
Who Regulates The Production of This Wine?
The production of Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise must be undertaken in accordance with strict regulations established by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO), which is the regulatory body responsible for the designation and protection of French wines. The INAO has established strict guidelines for the production of Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise, covering everything from the grape varieties that may be employed, to factors such as the minimum alcohol level and the maximum permitted yield per hectare.
Tasting Note
While Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise can come in a range of hues, it is usually a golden colour. It is generally a fairly youthful wine that is intended to be drunk young, displaying intense aromas of orange blossom, honey, nectarines and ripe to dried apricot. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and rich, with flavors of ripe apricots, honey, and citrus fruits. These wines, while being quite sweet, display a nice vein of acidity which helps to balance the sweetness and give the wine a crisp finish. They are generally more delicate, refreshing and elegant than other Muscat-based sweet wines that are found in neighbouring appellations, due to this acidity and also because they are not overly sweet or high in alcohol, relatively speaking.
Given its sweet and delicate nature, it is best to serve Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise well chilled, between 8-10°C.
Pairing Suggestions
Because of its sweet nature, this is an excellent wine to pair with desserts, especially those that are fruit-based. However, it would be an over-simplication (and a mistake!) to stop there. Yes, sweet wines go with sweet things….but they also pair well with fatty, spicy and/or savoury dishes. As a result, also try pairing this wine with foie gras, blue cheese, candied and roasted nuts and spicier asian dishes, especially those with a fruit glaze or a fruit component (e.g. pineapple beef stir-fry).
We think this wine is special….making it fit for special occasions in our view! Pairing suggestions above aside, try this wine during a special brunch such as Mother’s Day or a special birthday. It’s delicate nature is sure to suit the occasion!
The Final Word
Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise is a delicate, refreshing and highly aromatic sweet wine that should be in the repertoire of any serious wine enthusiast. While it may not be a day to day sipper for most people, this wine style is perfectly suited for certain foods and occasions and will elevate the experience of said moments in a highly memorable way. Be sure to try one and let us know what you think!
