Final answer:
The Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and Muscat de Rivesaltes wines are made from the Muscat grape, particularly Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. These wines are fortified, enhancing their natural sweetness, and are part of France's rich viticultural heritage. Grafting European grapevines onto North American rootstocks saved the industry from the phylloxera epidemic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sweet fortified wines named Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and Muscat de Rivesaltes are both produced from the grape variety known as Muscat, specifically the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. This grape is celebrated for its ability to produce wines with a pronounced sweet floral aroma and is widely cultivated for this purpose in France.
The practice of fortification involves adding a spirit, usually brandy, to the wine to halt fermentation, which preserves some of the grape's natural sugars, resulting in a sweeter and stronger beverage. The regions where these wines are produced, Beaumes-de-Venise and Rivesaltes, have a long viticultural history and are part of the vast agricultural sector that significantly contributes to the French economy, alongside other products such as cheese, meats, and confectioneries.
Interestingly, the phylloxera epidemic which devastated European grapevines in the 19th century led to the necessity of grafting European grape varieties onto North American rootstocks, combining the pest-resistance of the latter with the superior wine-producing qualities of the former.
Today, most grapevines in Europe, including those used for making Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and Muscat de Rivesaltes, are grown on such grafted vines. This ingenious solution has not only saved the European wine industry but has also maintained the high-quality standards of wines produced in the region.