French wine Archives - Matilda Marseillaise

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While today may be Pinot Grigio Day 2022, we’re celebrating the French wines made from the same grape, by their French name Pinot Gris. Discover 13 facts about Pinot Gris as well as a recommendation from a French wine importer.

Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio?
Pinot Gris is the French name for what is also known as Pinot Grigio by their Italian neighbours. They are the same grape. It’s also known by several other names.

Origins
We know that Pinot Gris originated in France. It is widely accepted that it originated in Burgundy, yet some still say it was in Alsace (confusion perhaps because of its abundance there today). Cuttings were transported to Switzerland in the 1300s and onto Northern Italy where it was named Pinot Grigio.

A happy accident
Pinot Gris is believed to be a mutation of Pinot Noir! A grape’s colour comes from, among other things, its number of active anthocyanins. Pinot Noir, the original grape has the largest number. On the other end of the scale is another genetic mutation, Pinot Blanc which has inactive anthocyanin. Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio are in the middle with less active anthocyanin than Pinot Noir but more than Pinot Gris.

Pinot Gris grapes
Gris means grey in French and is a reference to the colour of the grapes which can be grayish-blue. That said, the grapes can also have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance. It grows in small pinecone shaped clusters.

Same grape, different wines
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape but their wines are quite different in style. Pinot Gris tends to be sweeter or richer than the Italian Pinot Grigios which are drier and lighter bodied. Alsace Pinot Gris is known for its strong flavours and high alcohol content. The warm soils combined with the cooler climate of Alsace allow grapes to stay on the vines longer which leads to an increase in flavour and sugar development. French Pinot Gris also tend to be oilier than Italian Pinot Grigios. Flavours found in Alsatian Pinot Gris include apple, honey, white flower, mushroom and exotic spice.

Particular wines
Pinot Gris is the only grape variety authorised to make a Reuilly rosé obtained through pellicular maceration. But it is also the grape variety of the Coteaux d’Ancennis appellation, where it is known as malvoisie.

A dessert wine
Pinot Gris is also used to create late-harvest dessert wines.

Parenthood
Pinot Gris is also a parent. In Romania, Pinot Gris was crossed with Feteasca Regala to create a grape called Astra and with Grasa de Cotnari to create Columna. In Greece, it was crossed with Teinturier to create Deckrot.In Germany, it was crossed with Silvaner Gruen to create Freisamer. In Hungary, it was crossed with Pozsonyi to create Gesztus; and with Koevidinka to create Karat. Nosztori Rizling was created by crossing Welschriesling with Pinot Gris.

Pinot Gris in France
It may have originated in Burgundy, but you’d be hard pressed (pun intended) to find any Pinot Grigio there now. Today, Pinot Grigio is largely found in Alsace but is also cultivated in the Loire Valley.

The largest plantings of pinot gris are not in France
but in Germany, where at the last census, 5042 hectares were planted there compared with 2582 hectares in France.

Australia and New Zealand each have almost as much area cultivated by Pinot Grigio as France. Australia had 2836 hectares and New Zealand 2488 hectares.

Pinot Gris around the world
Apart from its homeland France, its adopted land of Italy, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, pinot gris is also cultivated in Argentina, Austria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Moldova, Romania, South Africa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States.

Pinot Grigio Day
It’s been observed annually on 17^th May since 2009. Share your pinot gris or pinot grigio on social media with the following hashtags #nationalpinotgrigioday #pinotgrigioday Feel free to also tag us @matildamarseillaise_en on Instagram or @matildamarseillaise on Facebook so we can see what you’re drinking.

PINOT GRIS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PINOT GRIGIO DAY 2022

Pierre Stock of Pierre Stock Wine Selections recommends 2019 Domaine des Pothiers Hors Piste.

Why do you recommend this Pinot Gris?

Most of the pinot gris are made in Alsace, this is one is made in Loire Valley in the Cote Roannaise to be exact on granitic soil.

Manual harvest and organic vinification, Hors Piste is aged in 500 litre barrels and can be cellared for 10 years.

How is this French Pinot Gris different to Italian Pinot Grigios?

This is a total different style than the Italian one, much textural and oily

What would you pair it with?

Fish or chicken with creamy sauce.

Can this Pinot Gris be aged?

Yes, for 10 years.

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Happy Pinot Grigio Day 2022! Do you prefer French Pinot Gris or Italian Pinot Grigio?

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

To celebrate National Moscato Day 2022, we’ve put together 15 facts about Muscat, the French name for the varietal more commonly known by its Italian name, moscato.

Not just one variety
Muscat grapes come in over 200 different varieties! Not all of these are used in the production of wine. The key muscats varieties used in wine production are: Muscat blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat of Scanzorosciate, Muscat of Hamburg and Muscat Ottonel.

The name Muscat
There are several theories about where the name muscat come from:
• The most commonly cited belief is the name is derived from the Persian word muchk.
This is supported by similar etymology for the Greek moskos, Latin muscus and French musc.
• The Italian word mosca meaning fly is a possibility as fruit flies are commonly attracted to the sweet aroma and high sugar levels of the grapes
• It may have been named after the city of Muscat on the Gulf of Oman.
• Similarly, it may have been named after the Greek city of Moschato, located southwest of Athens in Attica with Moschato being a common synonym in Greece for Muscat varieties.

Other names
Muscat blanc à Petits Grains is known by many names worldwide:
- Muscat de Frontignan and Muscat Lunel in France.
- Muscat Blanc in France and also the United States,
- Muscat Canelli in the United States,
- Moscato Bianco (white Moscato) in Italy,
- Muscat Frontignan in South Africa,
- Moschato in Greece,
- Brown Muscat in Australia,
- Muskateller in Germany and Austria,
- Muscat de Grano Menudo in Spain.
Origins of Moscato
The family of Muscat were likely propagated during the period of classic antiquity (circa 800BC to 600AD) by the Greeks and Romans according to ampelographer Pierre Galet.However, ancient pots found in Greece found traces of an alcoholic drink made with Muscat grapes. Archaeological analysis found them to be over 3000 years old.

All the hues
With 200 + varieties of Muscat grapes, it’s not surprising that they range from white to pink to yellow to black.

Muscat wines
While there are differences between the different varietals of Muscat grapes and the wines with which they are made, all share the same grapey, musky aromatic trait. Muscat wines are typically quite sweet and lower in alcohol. Aromas of tangerine, mango, lychee, jasmine, and orange blossom are common. Tropical fruit and sweet spiciness are common on the palate.

Notable French Muscat AOCs
Some of the most reputed French AOCs using Muscat are:• Clairette de Die in Die in the Eastern Rhône is a sparkling White wine made from Muscat
• Muscat d’Alsace, a synonym for Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains, is the oldest Muscat grown in Alsace. It is usually produced as a dry table wine.
• Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is considered to be the best of the South of France’s several vins doux naturels (fortified sweet wines). It has delicate, lovely aromas and flavours and can reach an alcohol strength of 21%!
• Muscat du Cap Corse is a rare, sweet wine with very intense fruit and flower flavours which is produced on the island of Corsica.
• Muscat de Frontignan, or Vin de Frontignan or Frontignan is considered to be the most important of Languedoc’s four Muscats.
• Muscat de Lunel is also in the Languedoc region. It produces wines with a highly distinguished character while retaining its subtle, delicate bouquet. The silica soil is said to contribute.
• Muscat de Mireval, also from Languedoc is similar to Muscat de Frontignan.
• Muscat de Rivesaltes in the Roussillon region, represents about 70% of France’s total Muscat production. Two types of Muscat are allowed: Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains and Muscat d’Alexandrie.
• Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois is said to be one of France’s rarest wines.

Muscat d’Alexandrie in France
It’s commonly used as a blending component in the vin doux naturel wines of Muscat de Rivesaltes in the Roussillon region. .

Muscat Ottonel in France
One of the most recent additions to the Muscat family, Muscat Ottonel was bred in the Loire Valley in the 1850s. It has the palest skin colour, ripens earliest and produces the most neutral wines of all the muscat grapes. Apart from being grown in the Loire Valley, Muscat Ottonel is the primary Muscat grown in Alsace where it’s used to produce dry and off-dry wines.

Around the world
Outside of France, Muscat is grown and made in Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Moldova, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, and the United States.

Best Muscats of the World competition held annually
The most recent edition, the 21st Muscats du Monde, took place on 7 & 8 September 2021 in Entre Vignes in the Occitane region. That edition saw entries from 19 countries and 182 still and sparkling muscat wines.

Australia in the top 10 Best Muscats of the World
Victoria’s Morris Wines in Rutherglen has consistently placed in the top 10 with their Old Premium – Rare Muscat

Not only wine
Muscat grapes aren’t only used to produce wine. They’re also used in the production of some spirits and liqueurs. Pavan is a blue liqueur made with muscat grapes and orange blossoms.Bouilleur Eau de vie Fine de Muscat 5 yrs is an aged spirit made by L’Atelier du Bouilleur, a craft distillery, located in the south of France, which is certified organic and organised as a cooperative. It is made from muscat grapes and has a 45% alcohol/ volume.

National Moscato Day
The celebration was created by Gallo Family Vineyards in California, USA. National Moscato Day is celebrated on 9th May every year.