Muscadine wine

The grapes from which this wine is made are simply like no others that wine drinkers commonly encounter. Firstly, all the various grapes we commonly encounter are members of the Vitis genus, even the American vine Vitis labrusca. This however belongs to a separate subgenus (of Vitis) - Muscadinia, which is a grapevine native to what is now south-eastern United States.

I met this grape and its wines at last year's Wine Fair. There was a booth and we tasted a number of these wines. All have a special aroma, which seems to characterise the muscadine grapes. It's a little bit strange, but I dare say it could become an acquired taste. On the other hand, the barnyardy odour of Burgundy can also be thought of as an acquired taste. All the wines tasted are semi-sweet. An interesting experience overall, though some friends are less complimentary.