CONTENTS
INTRODUCING
MUSCATOFRUTHERGLEN 04
THERUTHERGLEN WINEREGION 06
THEHISTORYANDHERITAGE OFRUTHERGLEN 08
THEMAKINGOF MUSCATOFRUTHERGLEN 14
MUSCATOFRUTHERGLEN CLASSIFICATIONS 18
MUSCATOF RUTHERGLENMOMENTS 20
TASTINGNOTES 22
MuscatofRutherglenisanAustralian treasure,impossibletoreplicateasit containstheessenceandartistryof multiplegenerations.Itislovingly handcraftedfromagedstocks,nurtured bygenerationsofRutherglenwinemakers intheiruniqueclimate.Theresulting winesareintense,richandsensuous.
MuscatofRutherglenisaworldrecognisedandcritically-acclaimedwine styleuniquetoRutherglen,withaproud historyspanningover100yearsoffamily winemaking.Theblendingskillsrequired toproducethisraregemhavebeen passeddownfromgenerationto generation,withwinemakersplyingtheir craftsothattheycansharetheirskills andartistrywithMuscatloversfromall overtheworld.
MuscatofRutherglenisaMuscatstyle likenoother;thankstotheunique combinationofclimate,grapevariety, soilsandarchitecture,butmostofall,the reservedstocksandunsurpassed blendingskills.
MadefromMuscatàPetitsGrainsRouge, MuscatofRutherglenwinesarerich, complexandintense,pairingexcellently withavarietyofsavourydishes,fullflavouredcheesesanddesserts,butthey alsostandheroicallyontheirown,over iceasanaperitiformixedincocktails. Thestrengthofthewinestyleliesinits versatilityandthemysterythatcomes withuncoveringitsessence. Thereisnootherdrinkonearththat compares.Itcapturesallthatisgood aboutAustraliawithfewwinesableto elicitaresponseuponfirsttastingquite likeMuscatofRutherglen–intense,rich, sensuousandmemorable.
MuscatofRutherglenstandsoutina crowd,proudlyofferingthosekeento tasteitadepthofflavour,textureand complexitylikenoother.Itoffersahighly sophisticatedanddiversedrinking experiencethatinmanywaysbeliesthe ruralsurroundsoftheregioninwhichit isproduced.
MuscatofRutherglenwinesaregrouped intoaladderofclassificationsthatmark aprogressioninrichness,complexity, ageandintensityofflavour.Thefour classificationsare:RutherglenMuscat, ClassicRutherglenMuscat,Grand RutherglenMuscatandRareRutherglen Muscat.Onlywinesthatmeetthe requirementsofthisclassificationsystem areawardedthemuchsought-after MuscatofRutherglenstampof authenticity.Theclassificationsexistto ensurepeoplechoosethebestMuscat tosuittheoccasion.
ThereisevenadedicatedMuscatof Rutherglenglasspersonallychosenby GeorgRiedel–10thgenerationoffamilyownedglobalglasscompanyRiedel.
MuscatofRutherglenwinesareintense, rich,sensuousandmemorable; anationaltreasurethatdeservesto beretoldinnewwaystoallwinelovers.
THERUTHERGLEN WINEREGION
NestledinVictoria’sHighCountry,the Rutherglenwineregionishometoa dynamicwinemakingcommunitythat drawsongenerationsofexperience whileforgingexcitingnewpaths.It’sone ofAustralia’soldestwineregionsandhas helpedmaketheAustralianwine communitywhatitistoday.
Oncehometothelargestwine producersintheSouthernHemisphere, todayRutherglenisaregionofboutique, family-runestatesrenownedfortheir boldwinesincludingworld-leading fortifiedstyles.
Likemostwineregions,itsfortuneshave ebbedandflowedasconsumertastes havechanged,butitsresilientcommunity hasadapted,evolvingwiththetimes withoutlosingitslong-heldtraditionsand strongsenseofidentity.
TraditionofInnovation
Winemakingisafamilytraditionin Rutherglen,withfifth,sixthandseventh generationwinemakerspassingontheir artistrytocraftcriticallyacclaimedwines.
Rutherglen’sgrowersandwinemakers areunafraidofchange,exploring alternativegrapevarieties,trialling differentwinemakingtechniquesand developingnewwinestyles.Creative youngmakersworkalongsidethosewith decadesofexperiencetocreatewines thatareversatile,oftenbrave,and deliverajoyfulsenseofdiscovery.The regionisrenownedforitsfullflavoured tablewineswithboldindulgentDurif beingdistinctivetoRutherglen.
TheMuscatCapitaloftheWorld RichandopulentMuscatofRutherglenis aninternationaltreasure,impossibleto replicate,thankstotheunique combinationofclimate,soils,oldwine stocksandtheskillsoftheregion’s masterblenders.
THEHISTORY ANDHERITAGE OFRUTHERGLEN
Withmorethan160yearsofwinemaking tradition,Rutherglenisoneoftheoldest wineregionsinAustraliaandlargely ownedbyfamilies.Thewineindustry beganinthe1850saroundthetimeof thegoldrush,andjust30yearslater, Rutherglenwasathrivingwinecentre, hometosomeofthelargestestatesin theworld.ItwasalsothefirstAustralian regiontobeawardedmedalsatthe ViennaExhibitionandLondon InternationalExhibition.Likeallhistoric wineregions,Rutherglen’sfortuneshave ebbedandflowed,butthecommunity’s resilience,collaborationandinnovation haveensureditssurvivalandsuccess.
TheFortifiedWineEra DrivesGrowth
1900-1950s
Initsearlydays,Australia’swinemarket waslargelyledbyBritishtastes,and fromthe1900s,richfortifiedwines wereinhighdemand.Rutherglen’s pioneeringwinemakersrecognisedthat theregion’swarmdays,coldnightsand longsunshinehourswereidealfor producingintenselyflavouredfortified winesandthesebecameRutherglen’s signaturestyle.Drivenbybothdomestic andexportdemand,fortifiedwine dominatedproductionandtradeinthe early1900s.RutherglenMuscatsand Topaqueswereahighlightofthisperiod, establishingtheregionasoneof Australia’smostimportant.
TheFocusShiftstoTableWines 1950s-60s
Thescaleoftheregion’svineyardswaxed andwanedinlinewithmarketdemands, andasconsumersincreasinglypreferred tablewines,thegoldenageforRutherglen producersended.Itwasachallengingtime fortheregion,butfortunatelymost wineriesweremixed-farmingfamily businesses,soincomefromothersources suchascattleandwoolhelpedthem survive.
TheinfluxofmigrantstoAustralia increasedthedemandforwinein generalandtablewineinparticular, andRutherglen’swinemakersadapted. Thisperiodsetthefoundationfor Rutherglen’smodernwineindustry: boutique,family-ownedwineriesproducing adiverserangeofwines,including sparkling,whiteandred,andstillmaking theworld’sfinestfortifieds.
TraditionComplemented byNewIdeasandSkills 1970ʼs-Today
Vineyardsexpandagainandnewwineries areestablished.Producersnarrowtheir focusontheregion’ssignaturewinesand exploresuitablealternativevarieties. Thenewgenerationofwinemakersare bringingtheirskillsandfreshideaswhile relyingontheknowledgepassedthrough thegenerations.
ThehistoricRutherglenWineRegionhas leftanindeliblemarkonAustralianwine heritageandcontinuestoshapethemodern wineindustry.Theregion’sgrowersand winemakersformaclose-knitcommunity that’spassionateaboutpreservingage-old traditionswhileexperimentingwithnew techniquesandvarietiesthatensurethis dynamicregioncontinuestoevolve.
THERUTHERGLEN WINEREGION
Climate
NestledinVictoria’sHighCountry,among gentlehilllinesrunningoutoftheGreat DividingRangeandtheMurrayRiver, Rutherglenat130-180m,hasaclassic Continentalclimate,withwarmdaysin theripeningperiodoccasionallyreaching hightemperaturesinsummer,andnight temperaturesmoderatedbythecoolair flowingfromthefoothillsofthenearby VictorianAlps,producingalargediurnal temperaturedifference.Theaverage meanJantemperatureis22.7°C.Itisa dryheat,resultinginfewissueswith diseaseormildewinnormalyears.
Atalatitudeof36°11’Rutherglen’s rainfallis580ml(23inch)withmost fallingattherighttimesinwinterand spring,allowingthevineyardstoretain goodsubsoilmoisturewellintothe growingperiod.
Mostimportantly,Rutherglen’sautumn islong,warmanddry.Thisallowsupto twoweeksextendedripeningovermost othergrowingregionsinthecountry. Thegrowingseason’sweatherconditions allowthegrapestofullyripennaturally, concentratingthesugarsandflavoursof theberriesandmaintainingthearomatic fruitflavourstoproducerichluscious winesandthetastesensationonly MuscatofRutherglenwinescanevoke.
Soil
SoilsvaryacrossRutherglen,though therearethreemainsoiltypes.Inthe northernbandoftheregionclosestto theMurrayRiver,vinesthriveinfine sandyloam,whichexistswheretheriver bankonceran.Thiswell-drainingsoil typicallyproducesfloralwineswithlower acidityandlesstannin.
InthemiddlebandofRutherglen, onthelowerslopesofthegentlehills, you’llfindredloamoverclay.Locally called‘RutherglenLoam’,thissoil accountsforthemajorityoftheregion.
Itisrichinmineralsandhasgood moisture-holdingability,whichis beneficialinRutherglen’swarmanddry climate.Muchofthefruitfortheregion’s famousfortifiedwinesisgrownonthis bandofloam,whichsnakesaroundthe centreofthetownandextendsfour kilometrestotheeastandwestandfive kilometrestothesouth.Rutherglen’s thirdmajorsoiltypecontainbandsof shaleandquartz.Thisisachallenging profileforvines,producingintensely flavouredfruit.
Geography
TheMurrayRiverandaseriesofcreeks, billabongsandlagoonssnakethrough theregion,contributingtosoilmoisture, andinfluencingweatherpatterns.Alsoa numberofundergroundaquifersthat contributesubsoilmoisture.
VineAge
Vineagevarieswithinthedistrict, howevermostofthegrapesaregrown onvinesof20,30,50,upto90yearsof age.Thesematurevinesgrowgrapes withintensityandrichnessofflavour.
THEMAKING OFMUSCATOF RUTHERGLEN
Therearemorethan200varietiesof MuscatintheworldbutRutherglen’s wineproducersonlyusethehigh-quality MuscatàPetitsGrainsRouge(locally referredtoas‘RutherglenBrown Muscat’),renownedforitsintense flavoursduetothesmallerberries providingmorecolourandflavour. Theclonesusedarespecificto Rutherglenandhavebeengrown hereformorethan140years.
HARVEST
TheamazingcomplexityofMuscatof Rutherglenbeginsinthevineyardwhere thefruitqualityandsugarcontentofthe harvestedgrapesarevitaltothefuture blends.Asfruitforthesewinesislefton thevineforanextendedperiod,many factorscaninterveneandaffectquality.
TheRutherglenvigneronsdrawona diverserangeofvineyardsacrossthe district–takingyoung,fruitymaterialfrom tenyearoldMuscatvines,orwonderfully mellowfruitfromlowyieldingvinesof40, 60oreven90yearsold,tobolstertheir blendswithMuscatofexactlytherequired richnessforeach.TheRutherglen vigneronshavelearntexactlyhowto extracttheverybestfromtheirgrapes, pickingoneblockofvinesearly,or managingtheyieldsofanotherthroughthe useofselectivepruning,orleavinganother blockofvinestomaturelongintoautumn togainmaximumsugarandflavour. Muscatproductionisnotforthefaint hearted.Thevigneronsmustleavethe grapestoripenonthevineforaslong aspossible–riskingspoilagebyearly autumnrainsorbotrytis.However, theirrichharvestisworththewait.
Ingoodyears,thesugarinthegrapes mayreachmorethan20degreesBaumé, andinmostvintageswillbeharvested at17or18degreesBaumé–averyrich harvest.Theimportanceofclimate cannotbeunderestimated.Forexample, wetweatherintroducesmouldwith attendantrotandundesirableflavours. Incontrast,weatherwhichistoohot tooquicklycaninduceexcess evaporationleadingtodryshrivel, beforetheflavoursugaracidbalance canbedeveloped.Hotweathercanalso burnofffloralcharacters.
Itisimportanttonote,thatRutherglen’s veryreliableclimateallowsthesugar developmentonthevine(thatis,not throughmat-dryingmethodsemployed inothersweetfortifiedstyles).Itisthe ripeningofthefruitonthevinethat providesthedepthandintensityof Muscatflavourandthefruitlusciousness forwhichRutherglenisfamous.
WINEMAKING
Fermentation
Inthewinemakingprocess,thedegree ofripeness,purityofflavour,thepoint offermentationatwhichfortifyingspirit isaddedandthequalityandpurityof thatfortifyinggrapespiritallcombine toproducethefinishedproduct.
Themuscatjuiceisfermentedonskins untilitreachesthedesiredsugarlevel ofaround17degreesBeaume.Atwhich timethefermentationisstoppedbythe additionofgrapespiritwhichkillsthe yeastandliftsthetotalalcoholofthe muscattoabout18%.
Extractingthesyrupyjuicefromthe fullyripenedgrapesisapainstaking andextremelystickytask–taking patiencetopressalltherichliquid fromtheraisinedberries.
Selectionforclassification
Eachvintage,grapesarepickedin batchesaccordingtoqualityandthe resultantwinesarekeptseparateuntil theirfinalqualitycanbeassessedand adecisionmaderegardingwhich classificationtheywilljoin.
Maturationandblending
Contrarytopopularbelief,ageisonly onefactorindeterminingthecomplexity ofMuscat.Asthestagesofthe classificationincrease,thenumber ofvintagesintheblendandthespan ofagebetweentheoldestandyoungest componentwineswillbegreater. Nevertheless,thesearemerelytwo contributingfactors.
Followingfermentation,thenewwines areplacedinmatureoakcasksofvarious sizes,toallowtheflavoursoftheMuscat tointegrateandmature,butwithoutthe overtinfluenceofnewoak.Infact,the barrelsarechosenonthebasisthatthey willnotimpartanyoakflavourstothe wine–thebarrelsmerelyprovidethe mediumforslowandgentlematuration. Inotherwords,itistheflavouroffruit, notoak,whichdrivesRutherglenMuscat. Theratioofbigorsmalloakcasks dependsoneachwinemaker’sblending program,asthesmallerthecask,the quickertheconcentrationand developmentofthewines.Sizescan rangefrom60-50,000litres.
Theplacementofbarrelscaninfluence thespeedofawine'sdevelopment,with winesfrombarrelsatthetopofastack nearerthewinery'sroofwhereitis warmer,maturingfasterthanwinefrom barrelsatthebottomnearerthecooler floorarea.
Blendingofmuscatstoclassification varies.SomeRutherglenwineriesuse amodifiedsolerasystemtoprovide consistencyofqualityandhousestyle. Manyoftheseprecioussolerascontain winesofuptofourgenerationsofthe family.Thereisasoleraforeach classification.
Wineintroducedattheearlieststage isverycarefullyselectedandallocated tothesoleraaccordingtoclassification inOctoberofeachyearfromthe reservesofyoungwine.Theselection isbasedonBaume,flavourandfruit weightaccordingtotheclassification ofthesolera.
Thematurewinefromthefinalstagecan onlybewithdrawnforbottlingifitpasses thetestofatriangulartasting.
Evaporation
Evaporationplaysanimportantrolein thematurationoftheMuscats.On averagethematuringcaskslose3-5% oftheirvolumeperyeartothe“angels”. Over20yearstheangelsgethalfof everybarrel.Thisevaporation makestheproductionofthesewines acostlyenterprise,butwithoutthis concentrationthroughevaporation, thesewouldnotbethe‘world'srichest wines’.Overthewarmermonthstheair inthecellarsisrichwiththearomaof Muscatbeginningitsjourneyskyward. Lookup,andyouwillseethedark depositsonthewineryroofs-evidence ofmanyyearsofthegradualmigration ofthewineoutofthecasks.
Theskillofthewinemakerinmaking andblendingthesewonderfulwines hasdevelopedintoanartformthatonly generationsofexperienceandaninnate knowledgeofthequalitiesoftheir Muscatscandeliver.
MUSCATOF RUTHERGLEN CLASSIFICATION
MuscatofRutherglen ClassificationSystem
RutherglenMuscatisclassifiedusing atieredsystemthatindicatesthelevel ofcomplexityofthewine.Thefour descriptionsmarkaprogressionin richness,complexity,ageandintensity offlavour.Ageisonlyonefactorin determiningawine’sclassification, butitdoesprovideanimportantclue.
EachproducerofMuscatofRutherglen hastheirown“HouseStyle”withinthe classificationsystem.
TheMoRStampofAuthenticity
TheclassifiedMuscatofRutherglen winesbearamarkofauthenticity–atrademarkthatisonlyappliedtowines madefromthegreatMuscatvineyards oftheregion,assuringthehighestquality andadherencetoclassification.
RUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:3-5years
Thefoundationstyledisplayingfreshfruit aromas,richfruitonthepalate,and greatlengthofflavour.
Aromas: Muscatfruit,raisin,orange marmalade,floral
Flavours: Raisin,walnut,fruitcake
CLASSICRUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:6-10years
Greaterlevelsofrichnessand complexity;exhibitingthebeginningsof maturewoodagedcharactersproduced fromextendedmaturationinoak.
Aromas: Turkishdelight,espresso
Flavours: Raisin,toffee,liquorice
GRANDRUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:11-15years
TakestheflavourofRutherglenMuscat toahigherlevelofdevelopment; displayinganewlevelofintensity,depth, andconcentrationofflavour,mature woodagedcharacters,andacomplexity thatimpartslayersoftextureandflavour.
Aromas: Coffee,toffee,darkchocolate
Flavours: Christmasspice,roastednuts, saltedcaramel,molasses
RARERUTHERGLENMUSCAT
Averageage:inexcessof15 years
Thepinnacleofthestyle,therichest andmostcompletewine–displaying deepcolour,intensefruitandmature oakcharacters,richviscoustexture, andextraordinarydepthofmellowed complexflavours.
Aromas: Christmasspice,coffee, chocolate,nuts
Flavours: Fruitcake,coffeebean, agedbalsamic,darkchocolate
MUSCATOF RUTHERGLEN MOMENTS
MuscatofRutherglenisarich, sophisticated,sensoryandmystical drinkingexperiencethattrulyreflects thelayersofexpertiseandtimethathas goneintotheproductionofeverydrop.
Withatastesensationthatlingersonand isnearimpossibletoreplicate,Muscatof Rutherglenisoftensaidtositbetweena wineandaspirit,whichgivesthestyleits greateststrength:versatility.
Theclassificationsystemassistsdrinkers tochoosethebestMuscatforeach occasionwhereitissuretoenhance theflavour.
Thenewgenerationarepushingthe boundarieswithMuscatofRutherglen.
ThinkthelighterRutherglenMuscat, freshandyouthfulwithasubtlerichness thatlingerswitheachsip,enjoyedasan aperitif,oniceormixitupinarefreshing cocktailwithadifference.Serveitwith canapés,driedfruitandnuts,fruitbased desserts,pannacottaandsorbet.
EnjoyClassicRutherglenMuscatwith avarietyofsavouryfoods-soups,spicy curriesandslow-cookedmeats.Cheese isanaturalmatchespeciallyacreamy Brie,crumblycheddarandpungent bluecheese.
ThestrongerGrandRutherglenMuscatis aperfectmatchtotheflavoursofterrine andpate,chocolateandchocolate-based desserts,richbutterscotchandcaramel desserts.Enjoyitwithaanystrong cheeseor,whentryingtoimpress,serve itasanAffogato.
ThepinnacleRareRutherglenMuscat deservestobesippedandsavoured aloneforpurepleasuretoappreciateits intensity.Itishistoryinaglass!Perhaps lingerlongerwithastrongcoffeeorthe finestdarkchocolate.
AMuscatmomentcanbeanything–relaxingonthecouchsippingaglassof RutherglenMuscat,bookinhand;sharing acheekyafterdinnerglassofClassic
RutherglenMuscatwithapartner; unwindinginthebathtub,aglassof GrandRutherglenMuscatperchedon thevanity;orsimplysavouringsomeRare RutherglenMuscatforpurepleasure.
TheMuscatofRutherglenglass
TheenjoymentofMuscatofRutherglen isgreatlyenhancedbyservingitina largeglass.
TheMuscatofRutherglenproducers workedwithGeorgeRiedelthe10thgenerationofthisfamous varietalglasswarefamily–tofind theperfectglass.
TheRiedelMuscatofRutherglenglass isgenerousallowingappreciationofthe complexitiesofthisuniquewine.
MuscatofRutherglenisanational treasurethatdeservestobeshared withnewwinedrinkers.
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