Muscadelle Wine: Regions, Styles, 10 Best Bottles to Buy in 2024

Muscadelle is an aromatic white grape variety that originated in Southwest France and is widely used in Bordeaux Blanc blends and other wine styles. 

Muscadelle wines have rich dried-fruit flavors and a refreshing floral aroma.

In this article, we’ll explore the grape variety, including its wine regions, wine styles, best bottles to buy, and food pairings. We’ll also compare Muscadelle with Muscat and Muscadet.

Popular Muscadelle Growing Wine Regions And Wineries

Here are the three most popular Muscadelle growing regions - France, Australia, and the US:

1. France 

France grows Muscadelle mainly in the following regions:

• Bordeaux AOC
• Sauternes
• Barsac
• Monbazillac
• Sauternes 
• Barsac
• Bergerac

While wineries in Sauternes and Barsac use only small quantities of Muscadelle in their Bordeaux blend wines, others (like Chateau Bertranon and Cuvee Hirondelle) produce 100% Muscadelle wines. 

However, the number of Muscadelle vineyards in France has decreased due to its vulnerability to botrytis and the drop in the demand for dry white wine. 

2. Australia

Initially mistaken for Pinot Gris, the grape variety is now called Topaque (or Australian Tokay.) Although Muscadelle is from France, it’s grown the most in Australia. 

In Australia, there are Muscadelle vineyard lands in:

• Victoria (South Australia)
• Rutherglen
• Glenrowan

The Muscadelle grape is mainly used in the production of rich dessert wines and fortified wines (wines mixed with neutral grape spirit.) 

Top wineries that produce Muscadelle wines are Chambers, RL Bueller, and Trevor Jones.

3. United States of America

Here, Muscadelle was initially mistaken for Sauvignon Vert. 

The grape is grown in small quantities in:

• Columbia (South Carolina)
• Napa Valley (California)
• Washington 

Some of the Muscadelle producing wineries are the Nichelini Family, Jessie's Grove winery, and Buty winery.

The 3 Different Muscadelle Wine Styles

Here are three distinctive Muscadelle wine styles:

• White Bordeaux: Muscadelle is the third constituent of Bordeaux Blanc, after Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s produced mainly in South Bordeaux (Sauternes and Entre-Deux-Mers.)
• Monbazillac: Produced in the Bergerac region, Muscadelle is blended with Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Gris to produce semi-sweet and sweet wines.
• Topaque: Formerly known as Liqueur Tokay, this Muscadelle fortified wine is produced in Northeastern Victoria, near Rutherglen and Glenrowan.

Now, let’s explore the best Muscadelle wines, their tasting notes, and their prices.

10 Best Muscadelle Wines to Buy in 2024

You should try out these spectacular Muscadelle wines:

1. NV All Saints Estate Museum Muscadelle, Rutherglen, Australia ($1286)
2. NV Seppeltsfield Paramount Collection DP 64 Museum Reserve Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia ($697)
3. NV Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rare Muscadelle Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia ($382)
4. NV Buller Wines Calliope Rare Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia ($149)
5. NV Stanton & Killeen Rare Topaque, Rutherglen, Australia ($128)
6. NV Baileys of Glenrowan Winemakers Selection Rare Old Topaque, Glenrowan, Australia, $107
7. NV Morris 'Topaque' Old Premium Rare Liqueur, Australia, $89
8. 2013 Jessie's Grove Winery Ancient Vine Tokay, Lodi, USA, $70
9. 2018 Chateau Marjosse Anthologie de Marjosse 'Cuvee Hirondelle', Vin de France, $35
10. 2018, Nichelini Old Vine Muscadelle, Napa Valley, California, USA, $30

1. NV All Saints Estate Museum Muscadelle, Rutherglen, Australia ($1286)

This fortified white wine has fig, butterscotch, and caramel aromas. Every sip coats the palate with rich honey and nutty flavor notes.

2. NV Seppeltsfield Paramount Collection DP 64 Museum Reserve Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia ($697)

Here’s a caramelized dessert wine with espresso and panforte aromas. It has tasting notes of date, prune, dark chocolate, and coffee roast.

3. NV Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rare Muscadelle Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia ($382)

This Muscadelle wine is refreshing with rich floral aroma and crisp acidity. The wine reveals powerful flavors of raisins, apple, honey, and peach.

4. NV Buller Wines Calliope Rare Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia ($149)

This sweet Muscadelle wine opens with flavors of burnt citrus fruit peel, chocolate, and raisins on the palate. It also reveals layered aromas of brown sugar, toffee, and caramel.

5. NV Stanton & Killeen Rare Topaque, Rutherglen, Australia ($128)

This rich, dense Australian Tokay coats the palate with chocolate, spice, and raisins flavor notes. On the nose, the wine has cream, walnuts, and baked fruit aromas.

6. NV Baileys of Glenrowan Winemakers Selection Rare Old Topaque, Glenrowan, Australia ($107)

With refreshing acidity and high alcohol content, the palate offers a concentrated flavor of coffee, caramel, and molasses. The wine also releases toffee, vanilla, and caramel aromas.

7. NV Morris 'Topaque' Old Premium Rare Liqueur, Australia ($89)

This Liqueur Tokay wine has medium acidity, high alcohol content and traces of coffee, raisins, and prune flavors on the palate. The wine is enriched with a pleasant peach, citrus fruit, and Christmas cake fragrance.

8. 2013 Jessie's Grove Winery Ancient Vine Tokay, Lodi, USA ($70)

This spectacular Tokay wine has a torched tropical fruit and shortbread cookie flavor. It has a velvety finish with luscious citrus fruit aromas.

9. 2018 Chateau Marjosse Anthologie de Marjosse 'Cuvee Hirondelle', Vin de France ($35)

This Bordeaux Blanc is delicate with floral fragrance and dried pear, lemon oil, and sage flavor. It also gives aromas of linden and stone fruit.

10. 2018, Nichelini Old Vine Muscadelle, Napa Valley, California, USA ($30)

Here’s a white wine with peach, melon, and honeysuckle flavor followed by citrus fruit, honey, and peach aromas. 

Best Food Pairings With Muscadelle Wines

Dry and sweet Muscadelle wines pair well with a wide range of foods. 

Most dry Bordeaux Blanc wines are a great pair to seafood, poultry, or roasted pork dishes. 

Dessert Muscadelle wines are perfect with foie gras or other pâtés, bleu cheese, crème brûlée, and soft cheeses.

Muscadelle vs. Muscat vs. Muscadet

Even though Muscadelle, Muscat, and Muscadet are thought to be related, they have some profound differences:

• Muscadelle: The Muscadelle grape is medium-sized with low acidity and opulent floral aroma. It produces both dry and sweet wines with a smooth texture.
• Muscat: This is a thin-skinned and small-sized grape variety with a distinct aroma of blossoming rose and musk. Muscat grape juice is mostly used in the production of semi-sweet and sweet wines with high residual sugar levels.
• Muscadet: This grape variety is lean, green, and has a more subtle aroma. The grape produces wines with a slightly saline taste and crisp acidity.

Uncork A Refreshing Muscadelle Wine for Your Next Celebration!

Muscadelle is used to make various white wine styles from crisp and dry Bordeaux Blancs to rich fortified wines with pleasant sweetness.

Besides enjoying a Muscadelle, if you would like to invest in fine, rare wines, you can easily build a wine portfolio through Vinovest. Its advanced AI platform can help you buy, store, and sell a coveted Tokay or any other fine wine at the best prices.