Definition: Rivesaltes AOC (Muscat de)

Appellation d'origine contrôlée, which refers to natural sweet wines produced in 86 communes in the Pyrénées-Roussillon and 9 communes in the Aude, covering nearly 5,917 hectares. The grape varieties used are small-grain white Muscat, Muscat of Alexandria, black, grey or white Grenache, Maccabéo and Tourbat, also known as Malvoisie du Roussillon. Rivesaltes wines are obtained by fortification during fermentation. They are mainly rosés and whites, vinified without the skins. It is a wine to be drunk young, for its aromas (fresh grapes, acacia, citrus fruits). However, there is also a smaller production of reds, whose colour is obtained by maceration during all or part of the fermentation process. These are rich and heady wines, with an amber or brick-red colour for the whites and rosés, and purple for the reds. Average production is 143,000 hectolitres of white wine. The Rivesaltes Rancio appellation is reserved for naturally sweet wines which, due to their age and the specific conditions of the terroir, as well as the ripening process, have acquired a rancio flavour. It can be kept: drink as soon as it is released. Ideal serving temperature: between 7 and 10°C. Enjoy with: foie gras, dessert such as lemon or orange tart, pear and almond cake, crème brûlée with summer fruits, nectarine mousse or harlequin tart with two types of plum. See Muscat.