Muscat Misfits…

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…” This famous ’90s quote, later used in a tech ad campaign, is our story. We have never chosen the easy, predictable path because it reeks of bland mediocrity. Who would only want to grow Chardonnay and Cabernet? Well, it seems like many do, but not us! It’s neither fun nor enlightening to do what everyone else is doing.

No one in their right mind would plant Muscat in Carneros. It isn’t economically viable, but you can’t discover the happy accident without breaking the “rules” and taking some risks. We initially planted Muscat with the idea that it might become part of the Abraxas cuvée, but it didn’t fit. It had too much character and overshadowed the other varieties. It became our happy accident when we started making it on its own, and we love it.

We now believe that this selection, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, grown in RSVnapa’s organically farmed Carneros vineyard by the bay, creates one of the finest wines made from this grape. Fermented dry, it develops into a beautifully aromatic wine that pairs well with the foods we enjoy.

Muscat has been maligned for years. Many perceive it as a simple, sweet, and sometimes sparkly “soda pop with a buzz” style of wine, but the noble Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, when properly cultivated and treated with respect, is a delightful, food-friendly wine.

“…and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

We know we’re not changing the world through Muscat, but maybe, just maybe, we can inspire some to move away from the status quo and provide hope to other misfits to change the world… of wine!

Rob Sinskey