Muscat was one of the first grapes to be identified and cultivated and is, more accurately speaking, the name given to the family of four main sub-varieties. The most important is Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria. Due to the high level of Monoterpenes they are almost unique in producing wines with a distinctively grapey and musky aroma. Muscat Blanc is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular light-skinned varieties making the Moscatel’s of Spain and Moscato’s of Italy. These wines are typically very fragrant and low-alcohol, sweet, sparkling wine. The grape is also grown in France, making bone-dry whites in Alsace and sweet fortified ‘Vins doux naturels’ in the hotter climes in south of the country. In Australia, it is the darker hued Muscat of Alexandria which forms the countries finest liqueur Muscats, delivering unctuous aromas of citrus peel and sweet spice. Good examples come from Barossa and Rutherglen Valley.
In recent years, a surge in tourism has revitalized Croatia's breathtaking beaches and stone-walled medieval cities - and turned the spotlight on Croatia's wines as well. White wines dominate most of the northern regions. Local varietals include Grasevine (Welschrielsing), Grk, Posip, Vugava. and Bogdanusa. The south is known for its red wines from Plavac Mali, Refosco (of Italian origin), Frankovka, and Crljenak Kasteljanski, which is the same as American Zinfandel. The international varieties have become popular as blending components.
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White wine is a wine whose color can be pale-yellow, yellow-green, and yellow-gold colored. The wine is produced from a variety of grape varieties. The flavor and color comes from the juice of the grape and sometimes the skin of the grape as well. Interestingly, not all white wine comes from white grapes. Some select red grapes are used as in Champagne.
