Muscat de Rivesaltes

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Amphitheatre open toward the Mediterranean, bounded by the Canigou (2,780 m), the Albères (1,450 m), and the Corbières (878 m).
• 98 communes are covered: 89 in the Pyrénées-Orientales, 9 in the Aude.
• Common soils: shallow, very dry, low in organic matter, very stony, and well-drained.
• Four viticultural soil types: rolled-pebble terraces, clay-limestone, weathered schist, and Pliocene sands.
• The Tramontane blows on roughly one day in three (as noted in the specification), bringing bitter cold in winter; the Mediterranean Sea moderates summers and provides cool nights.

• The technique of mutage by the addition of grape spirit was developed in the 13th century by Arnau de Vilanova (1238–1311); the Brousse Law (1914) codified the use of the grape varieties muscat à petits grains B and muscat d'Alexandrie B.
• In 1394, ten loads of 'muscatell de Claira' were sent to Avignon for Benedict XIII; the AOC 'Muscat de Rivesaltes' was recognised by decree on 29 August 1956, consolidating the earlier appellations.

• Young wines: pale gold appearance, aromas of white-fleshed fruits, fresh citrus, exotic fruits, mint, dried fruits, or rose.
• With bottle age, the colour develops amber highlights and the aromas evolve toward honey, candied fruits, and candied citrus.

• Dry, well-ventilated, and warm climate combined with poor, well-drained soils creates unique conditions for muscat d'Alexandrie, which has its only foothold in France here.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF)
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry