A Place at the Table
Some grapes seem to reinvent themselves every time they meet a new table. Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is one of them. Muscat is one of the world’s oldest cultivated grape varieties, yet it still surprises me. Depending on where it is grown and how it is crafted, it can be sparkling, dry, lightly sweet, or lusciously rich, each expression revealing a different facet of the grape’s personality. It is wonderfully adaptable—a true chameleon.
This Carneros Muscat takes a different path from the simple, sweet version. Fermented dry, it trades sweetness for energy, freshness and remarkable versatility at the table. That versatility inspired this lemon-herb chicken. The wine’s aromas of rose petal, lychee, Meyer lemon and grapefruit weave effortlessly through the rosemary, fennel and citrus in the marinade. Rather than competing with the herbs and citrus, the wine seems to gather them together, making each taste a little more like itself.
Although Muscat is naturally aromatic, it is often softer in acidity than many white wines. Carneros’ cool climate gives our Muscat a welcome brightness, but balance remains the key. A gentle squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil at the end of cooking lift both the dish and the wine, while too much acidity would overwhelm its graceful texture.
Like the grape itself, this pairing reminds us that first impressions are rarely the whole story.
Until the next wine…
Maria
