He Came, He Saw, He Made Muscat

In 1979, Andrew Quady discovered a test plot of untapped Orange Muscat grapes. He had some experience working with the distinctive varietal at U.C. Davis, and his experiences tasting European sweet wines, as well as his risk-taking spirit, led Andrew to see what no one else saw in the varietal at the time: potential. He turned the Orange Muscat grapes into Essensia, which opened new premium categories in the American wine industry upon its release. This also marked the beginning of Quady’s Muscat expertise – where the pronounced flavors and aromas of Muscat varietals are celebrated and intensified rather than softened.