Rutherglen Topaque and Muscat are one of the special treats in the wine world, luxurious and decadent wines that demand your attention and allow you to savour them over weeks and months. There are few experiences like this and a must-try if you have never had one. Rutherglen is the home to these gems, fortified wines, aged circa 8-10 years in old barrels and where the quality level dictates the age of the wine and sweetness level. Topaque is the new name given to this style, formerly called Tokaji, which is no longer allowed as this is a place famous for its own sweet wines. Made from Muscadelle grapes and true to Australian form the fermenting juice is fortified on skins, stopping the fermentation, producing a sweet wine. These fortified wines are typically aged in non-air-conditioned cellars resulting in evaporation (the angles portion) which concentrates the wine left in barrel. A slow oxidative process that takes time, but the result heavenly.
