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Serving a Muscadel? Over ice?

joypirate Aug 15, 2007 07:10 AM

When I was in South Africa last year I bought a bottle of red Muscadel based on the wine store's recommendation. He said that it is often served over ice with lime in the warm climate. This sounds intriguing and I think I'm going to crack it open tonight as it's 90 degrees out and I'm ordering outstanding Indian takeout with some friends though I am a smidge apprehensive.

Does anyone have any other experiences with this wine? Is this truly a good way to serve it? Any other recommendations?

I don't have the bottle in front of me but I can find out what kind it is specifically. It won several awards I believe.

Thanks in advance!

  1. Gussie Finknottle Aug 16, 2007 09:23 AM

    Yes, why not?

    You understand what this wine -- well, it's not really a wine -- is?

    It is grape juice that has had enough alcohol, i.e. brandy, added so that the juice cannot ferment.

    So you get a very fruity sweet grapey drink with high alcohol.

    I know some people who are devoted to it, personally I like it only in small quantities as an after dinner drink but it has too much alcohol.

    It's not a table wine.

    2 Replies
    1. re: Gussie Finknottle
      obob96 Aug 16, 2007 12:49 PM

      It may not be a table wine in the US, but it sure seems to be in SA--red and white, from a varietal called "muscadel" that appears to be of the general muscat family.

      1. re: obob96
        Gussie Finknottle Aug 17, 2007 04:31 AM

        SA wines labelled as Muscadel are fortified. They are fortified muscats (made from either Muscat Frontignan or Muscat petits grains) and usually made from unfermented grape juice to which brandy has been added. The minumum allowed abv was recently lowered from 16.5% to 15%.

        They are a type of wine known in SA as Jeripigo/Jeripiko, The Muscadel name is reserved for Jerigo's made from the muscats named above.

        Non fortified table wines are made from Muscats in SA.

        Muscadel is also used as a synonym for the grape varieties named above.

    2. Vinny Barbaresco Aug 15, 2007 12:18 PM

      Open the bottle of Muscadel, pour it on the ground and mix yourself a generous gin and tonic, repeat until the excessive heat is no longer noticeable....

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