AOC Muscat de Rivesaltes wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

A.O.C./A.O.P.

do not confuse AC Muscat de Rivesaltes, which is dedicated to white wines, with AC Rivesaltes. Covering 90 towns and villages in Pyrénées-Orientales and 9 in Aude, the Muscat de Rivesaltes region is the largest Muscat appellation in the world, with 4,500 hectares under vine. Soil types are therefore extremely varied, ranging from sandy or stony soil to loam, which soak up the dry, hot Mediterranean weather. Muscat de Rivesaltes are dessert wines made by arresting fermentation with spirit. Early bottling is a prerequisite to retain primary aromas and prevent oxidation.

Grape varieties: VDN : muscat à petits grains, muscat d'alexandrie

The wines of this appellation

Muscat de Rivesaltes are dessert wines that can only be made from small-berry Muscat and/or Muscat of Alexandria. They are powerful, fragrant white wines, though also suave and fresh with a long-lasting finish. They show pleasant notes of exotic fruits, pineapple, papaya and white peach, leading into vanilla, spicy, buttery, smoky overtones with grilled hazelnuts as they age. Enjoy as an appetiser, with foie gras or asparagus. The more mature wines pair well with cheeses (mature Cantal, Maroilles, Bleu d’Auvergne, goats cheese), marinated Collioure anchovies or desserts (chocolate mousse, lemon tart, sorbets).